NATO Chief Urges Major Boost in Defense Spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for a 400% increase in air and missile defense capabilities in response to ongoing threats from Russia and lessons from the Ukraine conflict. Rutte urged NATO members to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, with an additional 1.5% directed towards broader security needs, echoing former President Donald Trump's call for a combined 5% allocation. He also stressed the importance of acquiring thousands more armored vehicles, millions of artillery shells, and doubling logistics and medical support capacities. These proposals will be central at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, where further commitments to military spending and Ukraine support are anticipated. Rutte warned that security threats will persist beyond the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a significant increase in defense investment. His statements reflect a growing consensus among NATO leaders on the urgency of military readiness.