Speaking at the Chatham House Policy Institute, after meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Rutte said he expects NATO allies to agree to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense.
Russia could be ready to attack NATO within five years and the North Atlantic alliance's leaders are expected to agree this month to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product to prepare for this threat, the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte has said. The Guardian.
Rutte said in a speech in London on Monday that NATO needed "a major step in collective defense," which would include significant rearmament to deter an increasingly militarized Russia.
This would include a "400 percent" increase in air defenses, thousands more tanks and millions of artillery shells to increase reserves and ensure that NATO countries can keep up with existing levels of Russian production.
Speaking at the Chatham House Policy Institute after meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Rutte said he expects NATO allies to agree to spend 5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product on defense.
Of this, 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product will be for essential military spending.
also
NATO to increase defense spending by 20% in 2025, says Rutte
"The danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," Rutte said, reflecting the belief that the Kremlin will not demilitarize even if it agrees to a ceasefire and ultimately peace with Kiev.
These comments have prompted an immediate reaction from Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said NATO is "proving itself to be an instrument of aggression and confrontation" with the plan it is developing.
Western military planners believe that Russia will seek to maintain an active and experienced army of more than 600 soldiers, and will keep defense spending at about 6.5 percent of GDP. It will be able to threaten NATO's eastern flank in less than half a decade.
During his visit to the UK, Rutte also visited Sheffield Forgemasters, a steelmaker owned by the British Ministry of Defence that produces complex components for nuclear submarines. He made this visit before meeting Starmer and then giving his speech.
Rutte has pushed forward a proposal that NATO members agree to increase core defense spending to 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product by 2035, along with a further 1.5 percent increase for cyber and other related military infrastructure.
The UK is expected to sign the plan, which will be officially confirmed at the NATO Summit on June 24 and 25, as part of an effort to maintain the support of US President Donald Trump, who has insisted on the 5 percent target of Gross Domestic Product.
Rutte will not set a concrete date for achieving the target – indicating that it is still a subject of negotiations between allies – although he proposed 2032.
also
Rutte: We are Russia's next target
Other countries, including the United Kingdom, have indicated that they expect to agree by 2035.
"These discussions are ongoing," Rutte said.
Justifying the need for additional spending, Rutte said NATO needs a "400 percent increase in air and missile defense," as part of a broader rearmament.
"We see in Ukraine how Russia spreads terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies," Rutte said.
There will also be a replenishment of weapons stockpiles, which were initially depleted during the long period of peace after the Cold War and then because many weapons were donated to help Ukraine cope with the full-scale Russian invasion that began over three years ago.
"Our army also needs thousands of more armored vehicles and tanks, millions of more artillery shells, and we need to double our potential capabilities, such as logistics, supply, transport and medical support," Rutte said.
Britain has pledged to increase defense spending to 3 percent of GDP by 2030.
But last week British Prime Minister Starmer admitted that discussions were taking place about NATO's military needs.
also
Rutte: Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation
Russia said the threat was being exaggerated and that ordinary citizens would bear the cost.
"European taxpayers will spend their money to mitigate any threat that they say comes from our country," Peskov said.
