A direct message from the NATO leader to companies: Prepare for war

NATO’s highest military leader, chairman of the alliance’s military committee, admiral Rob Bauer has been touring Europe in recent weeks talking about the need for an increase in defense spending and companies’ preparation for war.

At the European Policy Center held in Brussels on Monday at the event Bauer urged companies to prepare for war.

The NATO admiral asked companies to think about whether they would be able to operate if a war broke out, because it is central to deterrence that companies can also operate in a war situation.

He reminded how Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has revealed the vulnerability of the West, especially in terms of energy supply.

“We thought we had an agreement with Gazprom, but we actually had an agreement with Mr. Putin. And the same goes for Chinese owned infrastructure and goods. We actually have an agreement with Xi”.

According to Bauer, Western countries are currently too dependent on China.

For example, 60 percent of rare earth metals are produced in China and 90 percent of them are processed in China.

The NATO admiral also reminded that 90 percent of the chemical ingredients needed for antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and blood pressure medicines come from China.

“We are naive if we think that the Communist Party will never use this power. Business leaders in Europe and America must understand that the commercial decisions they make have strategic consequences for their nation’s security,” said Bauer.

He urged companies to prepare for a wartime scenario and adapt their production and distribution lines accordingly.

According to Bauer, NATO countries must be able to ensure that they have everything they need in a war situation.

“An army can win battles, but economies win wars”.

Putin’s attack

The chairman of NATO’s military committee gave a similar wake-up call last week in Berlin as well.

In his speeches, he has called for leadership from Europe so that defense can be strengthened.

According to Bauer, politicians must be able to explain to citizens why defense spending is increased while cuts are being made elsewhere.

The NATO admiral said that one of the most common questions he is asked is: “When is Putin going to attack us?”.

According to Bauer, it also depends on us.

“Intimidation is like a bouncer over two meters tall at the door of a nightclub, which makes you think twice about going inside. If we are more than two meters tall ourselves, we are in a much better position,” said Bauer.

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