Key Points – NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called for a “quantum leap” in the alliance’s collective defense, warning that Russia could be ready to use military force against a member state within five years.
-Speaking at Chatham House in London on June 9th, Rutte urged NATO’s 32 members to agree to a new defense spending target of 5% of GDP ahead of the upcoming summit in The Hague.
-This proposed target includes 3.5% for core military requirements—such as a 400% increase in air and missile defense—and 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure.
-The move aligns with persistent demands from US President Donald Trump.
NATO Fears Russia Could Attack in 5 Years
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said during a visit to London this week that member states must dramatically increase air and missile defenses to counter the threat from Russia. Rutte demanded a “quantum leap” in collective defense for the alliance, stressing on Monday that Moscow could be ready to attack member states within five years.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Chatham House think tank, Rutte pointed to Russia’s rapidly developing domestic military complex, noting its growing ammunition production.
“Wishful thinking will not keep us safe,” Rutte said. “We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy. So NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance.”
Rutte confirmed recent reports that he was asking NATO’s 32 members to agree to meeting a new 3.5% GDP spending target, along with an additional 1.5% hike that will include the building of “defense-related” infrastructure, including roads, airfields, sea ports, and bridges. Rutte also expressed confidence in NATO members’ abilities to meet the new expectations.
At present, however, only 22 of NATO’s 32 members meet or exceed the 2% target. According to Rutte, states falling behind the original target, which was set in 2014, are expected to meet it by the end of this year.
Notably, Rutte also sided with U.S. President Donald Trump, who continues to pressure the alliance to pay its “fair share” of the burden, describing how Washington has “carried too much of the burden for too long.”
Responding to Trump – and Reality
While Rutte’s comments reflect demands set by President Donald Trump, they also come as reports suggest that the alliance faces a 25-year window of vulnerability to Russia if the Trump administration were to follow through on threats of withdrawing its military presence in Europe.
Trump’s calls for NATO to increase its spending commitments are not new. The president spent much of his first term demanding NATO members meet their financial obligations, famously pressuring allies to meet the 2014 target after years of effectively defaulting.
At the 2018 NATO summit, Trump warned that the U.S. might “go it alone” if spending levels didn’t rise, going as far – even then – to suggest that spending should be increased to 4%.
Despite protest, Trump’s comments prompted a sudden increase from multiple European nations. In 2019, Germany announced plans to contribute more to NATO’s running costs as long as other allies stepped up to help reduce the United State’s share of funding.
Trump has a track record of forcing NATO member states to take action on defense spending, but as the war in Ukraine rages on and Europe’s arsenal of weapons and ammunition dwindles, Rutte’s comments suggest the alliance is taking defense more seriously than ever.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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