NATO Chief Calls for Major Increase in Air Defense Capabilities
Mark Rutte emphasizes the need for a substantial enhancement in collective defense amid ongoing tensions with Russia.
Mark Rutte, during a conference organized by Chatham House in London, has called for NATO to quintuple its air defense and missile defense capabilities.
He stated that a dramatic enhancement in collective defense is necessary, emphasizing that threats will persist even after the conflict in Ukraine concludes.
Rutte underscored the urgency for NATO to improve deterrence and defense credibility, advocating for an increase of 400% in air and missile defense capacities.
He cited the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as evidence of how Russia instills fear through aerial assaults, leading to the call for bolstered protective measures for NATO’s airspace.
In response to Rutte's assertions, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused NATO of revealing its aggressive nature.
This exchange of statements coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump's insistence that European allies and Canada commit at least 5% of their GDP to defense, threatening to withdraw security guarantees if they fail to comply.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that NATO allies are nearing an agreement on a revised defense spending target, which may be ratified at the upcoming summit in The Hague on June 24-25. Rutte proposed that the 5% GDP target be divided into two expenditure categories: 3.5% for direct military spending by 2032, and 1.5% allocated for broader security initiatives, including border protection and cybersecurity.
Additionally, Rutte indicated that NATO militaries require thousands of additional armored vehicles and tanks, as well as millions more artillery shells.
He specified that NATO's capabilities for deployment, logistics, supply, and medical support should be doubled.
The UK has pledged to increase its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, rising to 3% post-2029. The Labour government's newly announced defense strategy includes plans to construct up to twelve nuclear-powered attack submarines starting in 2030 and six munitions plants, reinforcing the UK's readiness against Russian threats.
The country, alongside France, is one of the only nuclear powers in Europe and has allocated £15 billion (approximately €17.7 billion) for its nuclear warhead program.
On the same day, NATO’s Secretary General visited Sheffield Forgemasters, a defense firm in northern England, with UK Defense Minister John Healey, pointing out that the revitalization of British defense industry is crucial for enhancing the security of allies and promoting national prosperity.
He stated that a dramatic enhancement in collective defense is necessary, emphasizing that threats will persist even after the conflict in Ukraine concludes.
Rutte underscored the urgency for NATO to improve deterrence and defense credibility, advocating for an increase of 400% in air and missile defense capacities.
He cited the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as evidence of how Russia instills fear through aerial assaults, leading to the call for bolstered protective measures for NATO’s airspace.
In response to Rutte's assertions, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused NATO of revealing its aggressive nature.
This exchange of statements coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump's insistence that European allies and Canada commit at least 5% of their GDP to defense, threatening to withdraw security guarantees if they fail to comply.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that NATO allies are nearing an agreement on a revised defense spending target, which may be ratified at the upcoming summit in The Hague on June 24-25. Rutte proposed that the 5% GDP target be divided into two expenditure categories: 3.5% for direct military spending by 2032, and 1.5% allocated for broader security initiatives, including border protection and cybersecurity.
Additionally, Rutte indicated that NATO militaries require thousands of additional armored vehicles and tanks, as well as millions more artillery shells.
He specified that NATO's capabilities for deployment, logistics, supply, and medical support should be doubled.
The UK has pledged to increase its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, rising to 3% post-2029. The Labour government's newly announced defense strategy includes plans to construct up to twelve nuclear-powered attack submarines starting in 2030 and six munitions plants, reinforcing the UK's readiness against Russian threats.
The country, alongside France, is one of the only nuclear powers in Europe and has allocated £15 billion (approximately €17.7 billion) for its nuclear warhead program.
On the same day, NATO’s Secretary General visited Sheffield Forgemasters, a defense firm in northern England, with UK Defense Minister John Healey, pointing out that the revitalization of British defense industry is crucial for enhancing the security of allies and promoting national prosperity.