Rutte Warns: Increase NATO Defense Spending or 'Learn Russian'; NATO Launches 'Baltic Sentry' After Cable Sabotage

Jan 14, 2025, 10:43 AM

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged alliance members to increase their defense spending significantly beyond the current 2% of GDP target to ensure future security. Speaking at the European Parliament and during a summit in Helsinki with Baltic Sea NATO member states, Rutte warned that if defense spending does not rise, Europeans may need to "learn Russian or move to New Zealand" within the next 4-5 years. He emphasized that the alliance may need to spend as much as 3.7% of GDP, or even more, to meet future military capability targets and suggested spending smarter through innovation and joint procurement. Rutte also announced the launch of "Baltic Sentry," a new NATO military activity involving frigates, patrol aircraft, and naval drones to strengthen the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The initiative comes after recent incidents of suspected sabotage of undersea cables widely blamed on Russia.