NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning, urging members to make a NATO defense spending boost their top priority. During a London address, the former Dutch prime minister declared Russia could attack the alliance within five years without stronger deterrence.
The proposal comes as compromise with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has long criticized European spending levels. “This will transform our alliance,” Rutte stated ahead of next week’s Hague summit.
With Russia’s Ukraine invasion continuing and China expanding militarily, Rutte emphasized unprecedented risks. “We’re all on the eastern flank now,” he warned, dismissing notions that some members face less danger. The Kremlin quickly condemned his remarks as “aggressive confrontation.”
Britain’s planned defense budget increases 2.5% by 2027 and 3% by 2034 fall short of Rutte’s target. When questioned about funding methods, he quipped that Britons could “keep the NHS but learn Russian” without sufficient investment.
Rutte’s push also reflects growing unease in Washington, where bipartisan concerns mount over Europe’s reliance on U.S. defense support. Analysts say his call aims to preempt a potential shift in American foreign policy after the upcoming election, especially if Trump returns to office. By urging immediate and unified action, Rutte hopes to solidify NATO’s credibility and cohesion, warning that hesitation could embolden adversaries and fracture the alliance’s deterrent power.
Eastern European nations already support the NATO defense spending boost, having frontline experience with Russian aggression. The proposal faces tougher reception from larger economies balancing military needs with domestic priorities.
As the alliance prepares for its most consequential meeting in decades, Rutte’s message rings clear: NATO must choose between transformative investment or risk catastrophic vulnerability in an increasingly dangerous world.
For more political updates, visit London Pulse News.
