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 United States has appointed Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich as the next Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). This development occurs as NATO allies prepare for a summit in The Hague later this month, where they have agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of their GDP.
In this episode of Inside Politics, Anastasiya Lavrina sits down with UK MP Tobias Ellwood to unpack the growing storm of global threats. From ballooning military budgets to the shifting architecture of alliances, they explore what today’s tensions reveal about the future of global security.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently held a significant phone call with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, during which China conveyed strong positions on the Taiwan issue and NATO's role in the Asia-Pacific, alongside broader discussions on trade and bilateral relations
As NATO’s annual summit approaches later this month, allied defense chiefs are set to meet in Brussels Thursday for talks on key agenda items, with a proposed overhaul of defense spending targets in focus.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in London on Monday to discuss boosting defence spending across the alliance and the UK’s new Strategic Defence Review, Downing Street announced.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
Romania deployed fighter jets early Thursday after Russian drone strikes targeted Ukraine’s Vylkove region near the Romanian border, though no airspace violations were detected.
Ukraine and Russia completed another prisoner exchange involving ill and severely wounded soldiers, marking ongoing efforts to ease the human toll of their conflict.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned U.S. immigration raids and National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, calling for reforms instead of enforcement.
European foreign ministers agreed to increase pressure on Russia by imposing new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
NVIDIA unveiled plans on Wednesday to build the world’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, aiming to revolutionize European manufacturing with a 10,000-GPU facility and partnerships with industry leaders like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes-Benz.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
The European Union and Britain reached a landmark agreement Wednesday to ease border crossings in Gibraltar, ending years of uncertainty over the territory’s post-Brexit status.
Forced displacement worldwide has hit a record 122.1 million, driven by conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, as humanitarian needs soar.
Thousands gathered for a sixth straight night of protests in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, condemning President Donald Trump’s immigration raids as federal forces remain deployed in the city.
Romania deployed fighter jets early Thursday after Russian drone strikes targeted Ukraine’s Vylkove region near the Romanian border, though no airspace violations were detected.
Ukraine and Russia completed another prisoner exchange involving ill and severely wounded soldiers, marking ongoing efforts to ease the human toll of their conflict.
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