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NATO Chief Rutte Urges 'Wartime Mindset' and 3% GDP Defense Spending Amid Rising Threats from Russia

Dec 12, 2024, 08:40 PM

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning, urging member countries to adopt a 'wartime mindset' in response to the escalating threats from Russia. In his first major speech in Brussels, Rutte highlighted that NATO is not adequately prepared for future conflicts, emphasizing the need for a significant increase in defense spending. He noted that Russia is preparing for a long-term confrontation with both Ukraine and the West, and suggested that defense spending should exceed the current target of 2% of GDP, potentially reaching 3% by 2030. This call for increased spending comes amid discussions among European NATO members to raise their defense budgets, influenced by the incoming US President Donald Trump's demand for greater contributions from allies. Rutte also pointed out the inadequacies in the European defense industry, which he described as 'too small, too fragmented, and too slow,' and stressed the importance of ramping up defense production to counter the rapid advancements of Russia and China. He mentioned that Russia's defense spending is set to be a third of its state budget by 2025, the highest level since the Cold War, while China's nuclear arsenal is expected to grow from 200 to 1,000 warheads by 2030. The NATO summit in June is anticipated to formally agree on these increases.