Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, relations between Moscow and NATO have deteriorated, with the alliance long being a source of Russian concern and suspicion. Despite NATO repeatedly asserting that it is not a direct party in this war, a high-ranking military official within the alliance has made a significant statement coinciding with NATO’s preparation for its largest-ever military exercises, simulating a World War III scenario.
Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, has called on civilians in all NATO countries to be prepared for a comprehensive war with Russia over the next twenty years.
A Call to Civilians
In press statements made yesterday, Thursday, Bauer stated that while armed forces are preparing for this war, ordinary citizens must also be ready for a conflict that would require a comprehensive change in their lives if it occurred, as reported by the British newspaper “The Telegraph.” He added after a NATO leaders’ meeting in Brussels that “there is a need to mobilize large numbers of civilians in case of war, and governments should also establish systems to manage the process.” He continued, “We have to realize that peace is neither a given nor permanent, and for this reason, we are preparing for conflict with Russia.”
Moreover, Bauer praised Sweden for asking all its citizens to prepare for war before the country formally joined the alliance. Stockholm’s move, announced earlier this month, led to an increase in the number of volunteers in the country’s civil defense organization and a rise in sales of battery-operated torches and radios. The strong alignment of Western countries within NATO with Kyiv, supporting it with weapons and equipment for two years against Russian forces, has exacerbated Russian tension towards this alliance, which Russia has long accused of expansionist intentions and encroaching towards its borders, a move it considers a red line and a breach of its national security.
