On November 25, a senior NATO officer called on businesses to prepare for possible war scenarios and adjust their production and distribution chains accordingly. This officer emphasized that such measures would reduce the risk of these businesses falling victim to Russian and Chinese coercion.
During an event at the European Policy Centre think tank, NATO Military Committee Chairman and Dutch Navy Admiral Rob Bauer stated, “Ensuring that all critical services and goods can be delivered under any circumstances will be a key part of our deterrence capability.”
He pointed out that deterrence does not solely rely on military capabilities as all available means could be utilized in a conflict. Bauer highlighted increasing destructive activities and mentioned Europe’s vulnerability in terms of energy supply. He elaborated on the agreements made with companies like Gazprom and individuals like Putin and Xi Jinping, emphasizing the strategic repercussions of business decisions on national security.
Bauer stressed the Western dependency on China for supplies, citing examples such as 60% of rare earth materials being produced in China and significant chemical components for sedatives, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood pressure medications originating from China.
He cautioned, “If we think the Communist Party will never leverage this power, then we’re being too naive. European and American business leaders need to realize that their commercial decisions have strategic consequences for national security.”
The admiral highlighted the importance of businesses preparing for war scenarios and adjusting their production and distribution chains accordingly. He emphasized that while the military might win battles, it is the economy that plays a crucial role in winning wars.
Bauer also noted that the size of the Russian army is greater now than during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but its quality has deteriorated from that time. He stated, “The quality of these forces has declined. Currently, Russia is not the same threat as it was in February 2022, so we have some time to prepare.”
He underscored the need for increased investment in the defense industry to meet these challenges.
(This article is based on reports from Reuters)