NATO's urgent call: Ramp up defense to counter rising threats
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Western countries that they are not ready for the challenges that await them "in four to five years." He called for a "shift to a wartime mindset" and an increase in production and defense spending.
1:14 PM EST, December 12, 2024
During a conference organized by the think tank Carnegie Europe, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the West is not prepared for the challenges that may arise in the next four to five years.
Rutte pointed out the long-term threat from Russia, which is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with Ukraine and NATO. Russian military spending is expected to reach 7-8% of GDP in 2025, the highest level since the Cold War. Additionally, Rutte highlighted China's growing ambitions, planning to increase the number of nuclear warheads from 200 in 2020 to over 1,000 by 2030.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that the European defense industry has been weakened by decades of underinvestment. Russia is rebuilding its forces faster than anticipated, while the Chinese military-industrial base is developing five to six times faster than the American one.
Rutte called on NATO member states' governments to place large orders and sign long-term contracts with the defense industry.
NATO chief appeals
Rutte urged citizens of NATO member countries to pressure banks and pension funds to invest in the defense industry. "Investing in defense is an investment in our security," he emphasized. He noted that current defense spending is higher than a decade ago but still lower than during the Cold War. "If we don’t spend more together now to prevent war, we will pay a much, much, much higher price later to fight it," warned Rutte.
