NATO Secretary General Mocks 'broken' Russian Submarine Near France

• 13.10.2025, 18:41

Mark Rutte recalled the novel The Hunt for Red October.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte mocked the technical condition of Russia's submarine fleet. In particular, he called one of Russia's submarines "broken", and joked that it was "waddling home."

Reuters reports Reuters.

Rutte's statement refers to the Russian diesel submarine Novorossiysk, which was spotted off the French coast the other day. Russia said the boat allegedly had no faults and had come to the surface to comply with navigation rules.

At the same time, Dutch authorities said the Novorossiysk had been seen on a tugboat in the North Sea, which goes against the Russian statement.

The NATO secretary general emphasized that Russia has effectively lost its naval presence in the Mediterranean.

"Now, in fact, there is almost no Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean. There is a lonely and broken Russian submarine waddling home from patrolling," Rutte said.

He also noted that the current situation resembles a comedy rather than a spy drama, recalling the Tom Clancy novel "The Hunt for Red October."

"Today it is more like hunting for the nearest mechanic," Rutte said.