NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, has issued stark warnings about Russia’s militarization and growing military capabilities, yet notably omitted the fact that Western countries are still funding Russia’s war through substantial oil and gas purchases. Despite Russia’s economy being significantly smaller than NATO’s combined economic power, it is producing munitions at a rate four times greater than the West, raising concerns about the implications for European security. This situation, where European taxpayers indirectly support Russia’s military efforts, raises questions about the West’s strategy in the ongoing conflict, over three years in.
