The Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer, on Monday, the 25th of November, called on companies to prepare for a war scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries such as Russia and China, reports Reuters.
“If we can ensure that all essential services and goods can be delivered regardless of the situation, then that is a key part of our deterrence,” he said.
Speaking at a European Policy Centre think-tank event in Brussels, he described deterrence as much broader than military capabilities, as all available tools can and will be used in war.
“We are seeing this with the rise in acts of sabotage, and Europe has seen it in the field of energy supply,” Bauer said.
“We thought we had a deal with Gazprom, but in fact we had a deal with Mr Putin. The same applies to Chinese-owned infrastructure and goods. In fact, we have a deal with (Chinese President) Xi (Jinping).”
Bauer pointed out that Western countries depend on supplies from China, where 60% and 90% of all rare earths are produced and processed. He said that chemical ingredients for sedatives, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and drugs for low blood pressure also come from China.
“We are naive if we think that the Communist Party will never use this power. Business leaders in Europe and America need to understand that the commercial decisions they make have strategic implications for national security,” Bauer stressed.
“Companies must be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly. Because while the military wins the battles, the economy wins the wars.”
Top NATO official urges business leaders to prepare for “wartime scenario”
