NATO chief Mark Rutte calls for stronger defense spending amid rising Russia threat

Dec 13, 2024 - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for NATO members to start thinking as though they are in a war, as the threat from Russia continues to grow. Speaking in Brussels, Rutte described the current security situation as the most worrying he has seen in his lifetime. He urged NATO countries to quickly increase their defense budgets to prepare for the future.

Rutte’s warning comes as Russia’s growing conflict with both Ukraine and NATO becomes clearer. “We’re not ready for what may come our way in the next four to five years,” Rutte said. The alliance, he stressed, must act now to be prepared for the growing threat.

Russia’s growing power and the high cost of inaction

Rutte made it clear that the 2% defense spending target set for NATO countries by 2024 isn’t enough. He pointed out that during the Cold War, European NATO members spent over 3% of their GDP on defense. This level of commitment, he said, needs to be brought back to face today’s challenges.

“If we don’t act now, we’ll pay a much higher price later,” Rutte warned. Russia is expected to dedicate a third of its state budget to defense by 2025, which would be the highest level since the Cold War. With the threat from Russia growing, NATO must act quickly to stay prepared.