'We can defend ourselves now against Russia, but we can't in three to five to seven years,' says secretary general
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday said that allies must significantly increase defense spending beyond the current 2% of GDP benchmark, citing growing threats from Russia, China, and North Korea.
Speaking in Vilnius ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague later this month, Rutte stressed that the 2% target is "not nearly enough" to meet the alliance's long-term defense needs.
"We can defend ourselves now against Russia, but we can't in three to five to seven years. We have seen yesterday the comments by the chief of defense of Germany, and clearly, we have to stand ready so it will be considerably more than the 2%," he said.
Rutte pointed to Russia's rapid rearmament and highlighted increasing cooperation between Moscow, Beijing, and Pyongyang. "We know that the Russians are really reconstituting themselves at a rapid pace. We know that there's a Chinese build-up. We know that China, Russia and North Korea are working together," he said.
On Ukraine, he reaffirmed the alliance's long-term commitment to Kyiv, saying: "There was a clear commitment by all 32 Allies that there is an irreversible path for Ukraine to come into NATO."
While no timeline or specific date for membership was given, he emphasized that the commitment is firm and ongoing, with practical cooperation continuing to grow.
Rutte also congratulated Poland following its recent elections and said he looks forward to working with the new leadership to further strengthen NATO's eastern defenses.
His remarks came during a high-level meeting in Vilnius with leaders from NATO's eastern flank, the Nordic countries, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting marks the expansion of regional cooperation, as the Bucharest 9 format is extended to include the Nordic Five – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
