“I can tell you that we will need much more than 2%”, warned Mark Rutte
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on allies this Thursday to increase military spending and switch to a “war mentality”, to avoid a Russian invasion on their territory.
“What is happening in Ukraine could happen here too (…). It’s time to shift to a war mentality. And quickly reinforce our defense production and defense spending”, warned Rutte, during a conference organized by the Carnegie Europe think tank.
In his first solemn speech since taking office in October, the leader of the Atlantic Alliance warned that the Russian threat is approaching “at great speed”.
The official stressed that even if there is no imminent military threat against NATO, this does not prevent Russia from preparing for “a long-term confrontation with Ukraine” and with the 32 countries that make up the transatlantic organization.
Rutte asked for public support and urged a sense of sacrifice to “avoid the next big war on NATO territory”.
This call comes at a time when Ukrainian forces are falling back on the battlefield against the larger and better equipped Russian army.
The war in Ukraine is causing “more than 10,000 deaths and injuries on both sides every week,” he added.
“The Russian economy is on a war footing,” while European countries are reluctant to spend more to increase their defense capabilities, he continued.
In addition to Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are “working hard to weaken North America and Europe”, Rutte stressed.
“We must be clear about China’s ambitions when it substantially increases its forces, including its nuclear weapons, without limits and in an opaque way”, he warned.
“The security situation is the worst in my life, [e] We are not where we should be”, stated the leader of the Atlantic Alliance.
The European defense industry is “too small, too slow and too fragmented”, he considered.
NATO countries are spending much less on Defense than during the Cold War, when they spent more than 3% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In 2023, the allies decided to increase their military expenditure to 2% of GDP, but only 23 of them achieved this goal.
“I can tell you that we will need much more than 2%”, warned Rutte.
Some NATO countries are talking about the need to increase this limit to 3%, but they are still divided and no decision has been made yet.
Each additional point of GDP represents an additional 200 billion euros for European Union (EU) countries, 23 of which are also members of NATO, according to the new European Defense Commissioner, Andrius Kubilius.
This effort has a cost and involves sacrifices, explained the NATO secretary general.
“Today, I appeal for your support,” said Rutte, continuing: “I know that spending more on defense means spending less on other priorities, but it is only a little less.”
The secretary general suggested using “a small fraction” of social expenditure to achieve this objective.
“To protect our freedom (…), your politicians have to listen to you”, he insisted.
“Tell them you are willing to make sacrifices today to ensure our safety tomorrow. Tell them that they must spend more on Defense so that we can continue to live in peace”, he asked.
Rutte left a further warning: “If we do not spend more together now to avoid war, we will pay a much, much, much higher price later when we fight war.”
