Mark Rutte, the secretary general of NATO, issued a warning on Thursday that alliance countries might be “Russia’s next target,” urging a sharp increase in defense spending to avert a conflict akin to those saw in previous generations.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Berlin, Rutte made his remarks as European leaders debated a peace plan aimed at putting an end to Russia’s protracted conflict in Ukraine in the face of mounting US pressure. Conflicts are no longer waged at a distance, thus we must be prepared. “We are facing conflict,” he declared.
But if NATO “delivers on our commitments, this is a tragedy we can prevent,” he continued. “Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years,” Rutte said.
Too many people are silently content.” Too many people think that time is on our side. “It’s not,” he cautioned. “Now is the moment to take action. Allied defense production and spending must increase quickly.
NATO members decided in June to raise their defense expenditure goals to 5% of GDP by 2035, which is more than twice the present goal of 2% and consistent with the kind of increase that US President Donald Trump has long called for.
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