In a speech on Thursday in Brussels, NATO Secretary General warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and called on the alliance to “adopt a wartime mentality and increase production and spending in defense.”
“Russia is preparing for a long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us,” said Mark Rutte, adding that Europeans should be ready for the possibility that Russia may use “drone armies” on the continent. Putin, he added, “is trying to strike at our freedom and way of life.”
“We are not ready for what will come in four to five years,” said the former Dutch Prime Minister, who warned that NATO member states may need to spend more than 2% of their GDP on defense. NATO currently requires its members to spend 2% of their GDP on defense.
During the Cold War, Rutte said, Europeans spent more than 3% of their GDP on defense, a level also demanded by the newly elected U.S. President, Donald Trump, for NATO members.
Only 23 out of 32 NATO members are expected to meet the 2% target this year, according to alliance officials.
The NATO leader also urged member governments to increase their military budgets, warning that Russia may spend up to 7% or 8% of its GDP on defense next year.
Russia is already engaged in a “coordinated campaign to destabilize our societies,” Rutte warned, citing “hostile actions” Russia has taken against NATO members, including cyberattacks and assassination attempts.
“The danger is moving toward us at great speed,” Rutte warned. “We will not be safe in the future unless we are prepared to face this threat.”
/Argumentum.al
