NATO chief urges allies to prepare for war, increase defense budget amid Russian escalation threat

Welt reported the information.

Rutte urges Germany to significantly increase defense spending and boost weapons production.

"Germany must spend more and produce more," he said, adding that the country must continue on its chosen path both in Europe and in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General emphasized that Germany has "done many things right" since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine, "but considering the size of the German economy, we naturally want them to do much more."

"I will tell you very clearly: we must prepare for war. This is the best way to avoid war. Europe must not show weakness toward Russia. Otherwise, Russia might try something, just as in Ukraine," Rutte stressed.

However, he believes the threat comes not only from Russia but also from China, which has also "greatly expanded" its military capabilities.

The head of the Alliance also announced that the future defense spending quota will be significantly more than two percent. Over two-thirds of NATO partner countries are currently spending more than 2% on armaments, partly thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump, Rutte noted.

Alliance partners will decide on the exact details of the assessment in the coming months, Rutte said, in view of the next NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, in June.

"But I can assure you of one thing: it will be much, much, much more than 2%," NATO's Secretary General emphasized.

At the summit, diplomats expect intense negotiations on the higher target — 3 or 3.5 percent. In this context, Rutte called on NATO partners for greater solidarity.

"NATO must stick together as an Alliance. But the burden must be fairly distributed between Europe, Canada, and the U.S. So that the Americans don’t pay too much, and we don’t pay too little," he concluded.

• NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska stated that the organization is on track to fulfill the funding plan for Ukraine for 2025.