He said this in an interview with The New York Times.

According to Rutte, if Chinese leader Xi Jinping decides to attack Taiwan, he will first call his “very junior partner,” Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, asking him to “distract” NATO.

“’Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory.’ That is most likely the way this will progress,” said the NATO Secretary General.

He believes that two things need to be done to deter them.

“One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this. And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific – something President Trump is very much promoting. Because we have this close interconnectedness, working together on defense industry, innovation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific,” he added.

NATO’s Rutte warns that if China attacks Taiwan, Russia might target NATO. Rising military tensions highlight the need for strong defense investments.

kyivindependent.com

Concerns about a potential China attack on Taiwan are intensifying, especially in light of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s recent comments. In an interview with The New York Times published on July 5, 2025, Rutte warned that Beijing might enlist Moscow to divert NATO’s attention if it decides to invade Taiwan.

6 Key Takeaways China may seek Russian support against NATO.

Taiwan fears escalation after Ukraine invasion.

Rutte emphasizes NATO’s collective strength.

Russia’s defense budget increased significantly.

Taiwan views Ukraine conflict as a warning.

Urgency for NATO to enhance defense investments.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has heightened fears of Chinese military intervention. Rutte emphasized that if Xi Jinping were to act against Taiwan, he would likely coordinate with Vladimir Putin to create a second front in Europe. This strategy could severely challenge NATO’s response capabilities.

Fast Answer: The potential for a China-Taiwan conflict raises alarms globally, as NATO prepares for possible Russian involvement in such a scenario.

This situation poses a critical question: How prepared is NATO to handle simultaneous threats from both China and Russia? Analysts suggest that the urgency for defense investments has never been more pronounced. Key points include:

Russia’s defense budget surged by 42% in 2024, reaching $462 billion.

NATO allies are accelerating military investments in response to Russia’s aggression.

Taiwan views the Ukraine war as a warning sign for its own security.

The geopolitical landscape is shifting, with Taiwan potentially becoming the next flashpoint in global security.

As tensions rise, it is crucial for international leaders to engage in dialogue and strengthen alliances to deter aggression and ensure stability in the region.

If China attacks Taiwan, Beijing may ask Moscow to open a second front against NATO states, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in an interview with The New York Times (NYT) published on July 5.

Fears of escalating Chinese military intervention in Taiwan have risen sharply since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The war has served as a possible model of how both Taipei and the international community might respond if Beijing decides to invade.

“There’s an increasing realization, and let’s not be naive about this: If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, ‘Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory,'” Rutte said.

“That is most likely the way this will progress. And to deter them, we need to do two things. One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this. And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific — something President (Donald) Trump is very much promoting,” Rutte added.

Western officials and analysts point to Russia’s surging military expenditures amid its ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In 2024, Russia’s defense budget reportedly rose 42% in real terms, reaching $462 billion, surpassing the combined spending of all European nations, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

NATO allies have cited Russia’s military buildup, sabotage campaigns, and continued aggression against Ukraine as reasons to accelerate defense investments.

Rutte previously warned that Russia could rebuild its military capacity to threaten NATO territory within five years, urging members to act with urgency.

World War III will start with simultaneous invasions launched by China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned, adding the combined force of the disruption will kick the lid off hell and push the planet to the very edge of Armageddon.

According to Rutte’s theory, Communist China would start by seeking to grab Taiwan – while ensuring the Kremlin dictator simultaneously attacks NATO neighbouring territory, amid fears Putin is eyeing the Baltic republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, formerly part of the USSR.

Putin is currently looking to destabilize Europe all while watching the west and its allies to see how they respond.

Stressing the urgent need to re-arm and boost military budgets to see off a final battle between good and evil, Rutte told the New York Times of his grim future forecast: “Let’s not be naïve about this,” he cautioned before adding:

If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, “Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory. That is most likely the way this will progress, and to deter them, we need to do two things.

Continuing his end-of-the-world account, the former Dutch Prime Minister said defense spending and coalitions must be fortified right now two meet two criteria: “One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this.

“And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific – something President [Donald] Trump is very much promoting, because we have this close interconnectedness, working together on defence industry, innovation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific.”

Rutte warned the Russian president is rearming at a fast pace, insisting Western countries must increase defence spending to match that of the Kremlin.

“We have an enormous geopolitical challenge on our hands,” he conceded.

Senior Putin security official Dmitry Medvedev – erstwhile Russian president and sometime premier – dismissed the theory of impending doom on X: “Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch.”

The warnings from Rutte came as Russia continued its bloody onslaught on Ukraine – days after Putin informed Trump by telephone he had no intention of halting his war of invasion and territorial land grabs.

“We had a call. It was a pretty long call and we talked about a lot of things, including Iran and we also talked about, you know, the war with Ukraine,” he told reporters from the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, as reported by UPI.

NATO chief Mark Rutte has chillingly warned that World War III will start with simultaneous invasions from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.

Secretary-general Rutte suggested the combined attacks from the Chinese and Russian leaders could trigger a World War nightmare and bring the planet to the brink of Armageddon.

According to the NATO chief, China would start by seeking to grab Taiwan – while ensuring the Kremlin dictator simultaneously attacks NATO territory, amid fears Putin is anyway eyeing the Baltic republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, formerly part of the USSR.

Russia today hit back at ex-Netherlands premier Rutte, claiming he had ‘gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch’, while warning he should look forward to a future in a hellish Siberian labour camp.

Stressing the urgent need to re-arm and boost military budgets, Rutte told the New York Times in a chilling vision of the future: ‘Let’s not be naïve about this.

‘If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, “Hey, I’m going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory”.

‘That is most likely the way this will progress, and to deter them, we need to do two things’ he added.

Continuing his terrifying account, Rutte said: ‘One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this.

Secretary-general Mark Rutte suggested combined attacks from the Chinese and Russian leaders could trigger a World War nightmare and bring the planet to the brink of Armageddon

According to the NATO chief, China would start by seeking to grab Taiwan – while ensuring the Kremlin dictator simultaneously attacks NATO territory, amid fears Putin is anyway eyeing the Baltic republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, formerly part of the USSR

Putin pummelled Ukraine with four S-300 missiles and 157 drones, with 127 of the UAVs shot down or suppressed by electronic warfare

‘And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific – something President [Donald] Trump is very much promoting, because we have this close interconnectedness, working together on defence industry, innovation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific.’

Rutte warned that Putin is rearming at a fast pace, insisting that Western countries must increase defence spending.

‘We have an enormous geopolitical challenge on our hands,’ he said.

‘And that is first of all Russia, which is reconstituting itself at a pace and a speed which is unparalleled in recent history.

‘They are now producing three times as much ammunition in three months as the whole of NATO is doing in a year.

‘This is unsustainable, but the Russians are working together with the North Koreans, with the Chinese and Iranians, the mullahs, in fighting this unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.

‘So here, the Indo-Pacific and your Atlantic are getting more and more interconnected. We know that China has its eye on Taiwan.’

Senior Putin security official Dmitry Medvedev – a former Russian president and ex-premier – lashed out on X: ‘Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch.

‘He sees collusion between China & Russia over Taiwan, and then a Russian attack on Europe.

‘But he’s right about one thing: he should learn Russian. It might come in handy in a Siberian camp.’

The warnings came as Russia continued its onslaught on Ukraine – days after Putin informed Trump by telephone that he had no intention of halting his war of invasion.

Senior Putin security official Dmitry Medvedev (pictured) – a former Russian president and ex-premier – lashed out on X: ‘Rutte has clearly gorged on too many of the magic mushrooms beloved by the Dutch

Explosions hit Kyiv and the surrounding region, with multiple people wounded and residential buildings damaged

Two multi-story buildings were damaged in the Vyshhorod district, the fire destroyed four garage premises and a car, and three more cars were damaged

Putin pummelled Ukraine with four S-300 missiles and 157 drones, with 127 of the UAVs shot down or suppressed by electronic warfare.

Explosions hit Kyiv and the surrounding region, with multiple people wounded and residential buildings damaged.

In Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, a two year old child and a woman, 46, were among those hurt as Putin continued to terrorise civilians, seeking to weaken the population’s resolve.

The Russians also hit Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.

Apartment buildings were also hit in Kramatorsk in drone strikes.

Ukraine hit back with an attack sea drone seen being destroyed by Russian defences in Novorossiysk Bay in the Black Sea.

Moscow was forced to close its major international airport Sheremetyevo due to the threat of drones.

Rutte praised Trump for seeking to make progress with Putin.

‘He is the one who broke the deadlock with Putin. When he became president in January, he started these discussions with Putin, and he was the only one who was able to do this,’ said the NATO chief.

‘This had to happen. A direct dialogue between the American president and the president of the Russian Federation.’

Yet this had not yet resulted in a peace deal.

‘We are not there yet, and that means that in the meantime you have to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight.’