Mark Rutte: NATO’s 2% GDP Defense Spending Target Is No Longer Enough

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that alliance members will soon discuss increasing defense spending targets beyond the current 2% of GDP, as this level is insufficient to ensure long-term security, Rutte said at a press conference following a NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, reported UNITED24 Media correspondent, citing Rutte’s statement on December 4.

Rutte emphasized that the need for higher defense expenditures transcends former US President Donald Trump’s past criticism of Europe’s defense contributions.

“It’s not just about Trump,” Rutte said. “I firmly believe—and many allies agree—that 2% is simply not enough. It’s sufficient for now, but if we want to maintain effective deterrence in the long run, we need to spend more.”

When asked if European NATO members should prepare to meet a potential 3% GDP spending target—a figure suggested by President-elect Donald Trump—Rutte acknowledged that Trump’s first presidency had pressured many allies to reach the 2% threshold. The war in Ukraine added further urgency.

“Right now, we can defend ourselves, and there’s no one eager to attack us. But we need to ensure this holds true in four to five years,” he added.

Rutte suggested that future spending targets could be tailored to individual countries, reflecting their specific needs and gaps in capabilities. “One thing is clear: 2% is no longer sufficient,” he reiterated.

The NATO chief also raised concerns about the defense industry’s ability to meet demand efficiently.

“It is absolutely clear if you want to keep the deterrence at the present level, 2% is not enough, and then to expand on that, the defense industrial base, we are producing not enough at too high prices and the delivery is too slow, so defense industry needs to put in more shifts, needs to put in more production lines, we cannot have a situation where we just pay more for the same,” he said.

Earlier, Rutte stated that Ukraine’s request for a significant supply of air defense systems to protect nuclear and other critical infrastructure was positively received by NATO partners.

Ukraine urged the allies for the delivery of 20 additional air defense systems, said Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha.

“And we are speaking about urgent supply of at least 20 additional system types: HAWK, NASAMS, or IRIS-T and it will help us to avoid blackouts,” he said.