President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offers condolences and thanks President Ilham Aliyev
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on July 1 to offer condolences, express gratitude for regional s...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today demanded a "quantum leap" in air defence, calling for a 400% increase and pushing for a 5% GDP security spending target.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today delivered a powerful address in London, advocating for a significant overhaul of the alliance's defence capabilities and a substantial increase in member states' financial commitments. In a speech at the Chatham House think tank, Rutte called for a 400% increase in NATO's air and missile defence, deeming it a "quantum leap" essential for maintaining credible deterrence in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
Rutte's urgent appeal comes just weeks before a critical NATO summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 24-25, where these priorities are expected to dominate discussions. According to extracts from his speech, Rutte highlighted the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating, "We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies." He stressed that the "danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," underscoring the long-term necessity of enhanced defence.
Beyond air and missile defence, Rutte is also pushing for a revised defence spending target for NATO members. He is advocating for countries to commit 3.5% of their GDP to core defence spending, with an additional 1.5% allocated to broader security-related expenditures. This ambitious 5% total target aims to meet demands from U.S. President Donald Trump for greater burden-sharing within the alliance. Rutte expressed confidence last month that this 5% target would be agreed upon at the upcoming summit.
The push for increased defence spending resonates across Europe, with several nations already announcing plans to boost their military budgets. The United Kingdom, for instance, has pledged to raise its defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a further increase to 3% at a later date. Germany has also indicated that it will need to recruit an additional 50,000 to 60,000 active soldiers to align with new NATO targets.
The upcoming summit in The Hague, the first under Mark Rutte's leadership as Secretary General, is poised to be a pivotal moment for the alliance, as members grapple with evolving security challenges and the imperative to bolster collective defence.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
Concerns over new U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump are weighing on global manufacturing, though June data show signs of resilience in countries like Japan, China, and Ireland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on July 1 to offer condolences, express gratitude for regional support, and reaffirm mutual commitment to sovereignty and bilateral cooperation.
The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI on Monday announced an arrest and indictments related to North Korea’s 'IT worker' program, through which North Koreans secured remote tech jobs at more than a 100 U.S. companies to steal money and data globally.
A senior figure in Russia’s defence establishment, Timur Ivanov, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of corruption, amid an escalating crackdown on high-level misconduct.
As the Dalai Lama turns 90, the question of his successor is drawing global attention — not just spiritually, but a deeply political one for China, India, and the U.S.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment