NATO press releases and official statements

NATO Chief Urges 'Wartime Mindset' and 3% GDP Defense Spending Target Amid Rising Global Threats

Dec 13, 2024, 07:47 AM

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning to member countries, urging them to adopt a 'wartime mindset' and significantly increase their defense spending. Speaking at his first major public speech since taking charge in October, at a Carnegie Europe conference in Brussels, Rutte emphasized the need for a collective shift in mentality due to escalating global threats, particularly from Russia and China. He highlighted that the current security environment is the most precarious in his lifetime, with Russia's actions in Ukraine signaling a broader threat to Europe's freedom and way of life. Rutte called for a ramp-up in defense production and spending, suggesting that the 2% GDP defense spending target, set a decade ago, should now be considered a minimum. He warned that failure to prepare could lead to a much higher cost in the future to fight a potential war. This call to action comes as NATO's 32 members are expected to discuss raising the defense spending target to 3% of GDP by 2030 at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, reflecting the alliance's urgent need to address capability gaps and bolster air defenses, offensive weaponry, and nuclear deterrence. Rutte's remarks also acknowledge the influence of incoming US President Donald Trump, who has previously pushed for NATO allies to spend more on defense.