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Rutte Pushes 5% Military Spending: “We May Find Ourselves Forced to Learn Russian”
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on Alliance members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, citing Russia’s rapid militarization and the evolving global security landscape.
In an interview with The New York Times, Rutte said the previous 2% benchmark is no longer sufficient given current geopolitical threats.
According to Rutte, Russia is rebuilding its military capabilities at an unprecedented pace, producing three times more ammunition in three months than all NATO member states combined can manufacture in a year.
He attributed this accelerated capacity to Moscow’s deepening ties with North Korea, China, and Iran.
“The geopolitical challenge we are facing is enormous. Russia is regenerating itself at a speed unmatched in modern history,” Rutte stated. “It is now engaged in an unprovoked war against Ukraine, with direct material support from authoritarian regimes.”
He stressed that a significant increase in defense budgets is required not only to maintain conventional military readiness but also to address new domains such as cybersecurity and hybrid warfare.
Rutte explained that the increase to 5% would consist of 3.5% for core defense capabilities and an additional 1.5% for broader resilience initiatives, including societal preparedness.
“We need to develop our defense industrial base. We must invest in cybersecurity, hybrid defense, and prepare our societies beyond the military sector,” he said. “Yes, these are substantial expenditures. But if we do not make them, we may find ourselves forced to learn the Russian language.”
Rutte also referenced Spain’s decision not to increase its defense spending, suggesting that future developments would prove this position to be mistaken.
The NATO Secretary General emphasized that the interconnection between the North Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is growing, particularly in light of China’s ambitions toward Taiwan and its alignment with Russia.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence reported that Russia is preparing to deploy up to 50 Laotian sappers to the Kursk region under the pretext of humanitarian demining. Kyiv says the move aims to legitimize foreign military support for Russia’s war effort. Laos has also offered free rehabilitation for wounded Russian soldiers, while North Korea is expected to send 1,000 deminers and 5,000 laborers.
