Mark Rutte has once again attacked Spain, and this time also Portugal, for downplaying the threat that Russia poses to the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The Secretary General's criticism has received a strong response from the Portuguese government, which described the former Dutch Prime Minister's attitude as "regrettable."
The clash began when Rutte, in a Dutch television program, stated: "I occasionally tell our allies in Spain or Portugal, who say: 'Well, after all, it's a bit farther away. And what is happening in Russia mainly affects Poland.' Modern Russian missiles take only five minutes longer to reach Lisbon than to reach Warsaw. Therefore, this affects all of us, and we cannot be naive about it. We must protect ourselves against it."
This is something Rutte has previously pointed out regarding the Spanish capital, when in September 2025 he claimed that "the latest Russian missiles, when launched, descended at five times the speed of sound, and take only five or 10 minutes longer to reach Madrid or London than they do to reach Tallinn or Vilnius." More than a year later, the Secretary General reiterates the same criticism and reignites the differences between NATO leadership and one of its allies. Or in this case, two.
So far, there has been no response from Spain, but Portugal has reacted. And in a very blunt manner. "NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte should know that he cannot overlook the countries and governments that firmly support Ukraine and fully understand the threat that Russia represents," the Portuguese government posted yesterday afternoon on its X social media account.
"Portugal, its government, and its citizens have never had the slightest doubt about which side of history they are on. It is regrettable that the NATO Secretary General speaks so lightly about such a serious matter," it added.
NATO Tries to Contain the Crisis
When asked about this harsh exchange of accusations and attacks, NATO is trying to contain the crisis that has arisen between Rutte and one of the allied countries. "It is clear that all allies agree that Russia represents a threat, as confirmed again by the leaders gathered at the summit held in Ankara in July," says Allison Hart, spokesperson for the Alliance.
"And although all governments understand this threat, the Secretary General often emphasizes, in front of a public that may not be as attentive to security issues, how close this threat is to all allies," Hart emphasizes.