NATO must do much more in order to shift war's trajectory – NATO Secretary General

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, commenting on the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast, has stressed the need to take further steps to shift the trajectory of the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Rutte noted in his column for Politico that the presence of North Korean forces on European soil should prompt everyone to consider whether "we are on the verge of something far darker than the devastation that’s already been visited upon the people of Ukraine".

Rutte warned that the deepening military and economic ties between Russia and North Korea not only threaten Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security but also are dangerous globally.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, NATO member states have provided Ukraine with over 99% of all military support and are on track to fulfil their financial commitment of €40 billion in military aid this year, he said.

"What we need now is the political commitment to stay the course for the long haul. So far, our support has kept Ukraine in the fight. But we need to do much more in order to shift the conflict’s trajectory. We need to raise the cost for Putin and his enabling authoritarian friends," he wrote.

The NATO Secretary General added that it is also essential to further invest in relationships with Indo-Pacific partners.

"Backing Ukraine costs a fraction of our annual military budgets. That’s a small price to pay for peace. The question is, can we afford not to?", he asked rhetorically.

On 5 November, foreign ministers from the G7 countries and three key allied nations expressed serious concern about the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and said they were working on a coordinated response.

Meanwhile, British intelligence has indicated that North Korean troops involved in combat against Ukraine may face compatibility issues with Russian forces and equipment.