NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called for a significant escalation in defense spending and production to counter threats from Russia on Thursday in his first major speech as NATO Secretary General. Speaking in Brussels, Rutte warned that the alliance is unprepared for the growing threats and emphasized the need for a “wartime mindset” to address other emerging security challenges.
“Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us,” Rutte said. “We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset, and turbocharge our defence production and defence spending.”
Rutte advocated for a defense spending target well above NATO’s current benchmark of 2% of GDP, citing historical spending levels during the Cold War that exceeded 3%. While 23 of NATO’s 32 member states are expected to meet the 2% threshold this year, Rutte argued this is insufficient given Russia’s preparations for a prolonged confrontation.
The push aligns with renewed calls from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump for NATO allies to increase their defense budgets to 3% of GDP, adding pressure on European nations to shoulder more of the alliance’s collective burden.
Rutte urged NATO members to remove barriers to collaboration in the defense industry, calling for streamlined coordination between governments, industries, banks, and pension funds.
“There is money on the table, and it will only increase. So dare to innovate and take risks,” he told defense contractors, emphasizing the need for innovation to meet future challenges.
In addition to Russia’s military aggression, Rutte highlighted other destabilizing factors, including cyberattacks, assassination attempts, and China’s expanding military capabilities. He warned of Beijing’s substantial force buildup, which he described as occurring “with no transparency and no limitations.”
