NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called on European allies on Wednesday to intensify defense spending, citing the need to meet growing security challenges as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House.
A decade ago, NATO leaders agreed to halt post-Cold War defense cuts and commit two percent of GDP to military budgets following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
However, after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, leaders emphasized that the two percent target should now be a minimum benchmark. Despite collective progress, about a third of NATO members still fall short.
“If you want to keep the deterrence at the present level, two percent is not enough,” Rutte said after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. “We can now defend ourselves, and nobody should try to attack us. But I want that to stay the same in four or five years.”
Virginia Mayo/AP Photo
How Would Increased Spending Bolster NATO’s Strategy?
During Trump’s first term, he criticized U.S. allies for failing to meet NATO‘s defense budget targets, and has since threatened not to defend “delinquent” countries who in his view do not pay enough toward the alliance, leaving the U.S. to makeup the shortfall. NATO is founded on the principle that an attack on any member must be considered an attack on them all, with Trump’s remarks undermined confidence that the U.S. could be counted on in a crisis.
However, NATO has initiated the most significant overhaul of its defense strategy since the Cold War. Under new, classified plans, the alliance intends to deploy up to 300,000 troops to its eastern flank within 30 days if needed. This rapid-response strategy aims to deter Russian aggression across regions spanning the Arctic to the Black Sea.
NATO officials have warned that executing this security blueprint may require spending as much as three percent of GDP.
Rutte noted the possibility of new targets to address gaps in military equipment and underscored the urgency of addressing production inefficiencies in Europe’s defense industry.
“We are producing not enough at too high prices, and the delivery is too slow,” Rutte said. He urged NATO allies to collaborate on boosting production rates and reducing costs, noting that some countries are turning to South Korean suppliers due to inefficiencies in European production.
Virginia Mayo/AP Photo
Voices from NATO Allies Stress Immediate Action
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the urgency of ramping up defense spending, citing global instability. “We’re living in very dangerous times,” Lammy said, highlighting Russia’s role in conflicts beyond Ukraine, including in the Middle East and Africa.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reinforced the importance of NATO’s collective strength, stating, “This is a time for every ally to lean in, not lean back.” Blinken described a stronger NATO as essential for deterring aggression and maintaining global peace.
The Road Ahead for NATO
Rutte stressed the importance of creating incentives for Europe’s defense sector to establish more production lines and hire workers. With Western support for Ukraine depleting armament reserves, NATO must ensure sustainability.
“We cannot have a situation where we just pay more for the same,” Rutte said, adding that increased spending must translate into better capabilities, not just higher costs.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
