THE head of Nato has warned the alliance must gear up for war or its members will flounder in the face of Russian aggression.
Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, harked back to the Cold War days, when countries cranked up defence spending to over 3 per cent of GDP.
RexMark Rutte, NATO secretary general, shared his concerns and hopes for defence spending in Nato countries[/caption]
GettyUkraine soldiers, pictured here, are funded by a huge increase in defence spending in the country, which is not part of Nato[/caption]
GettyVladimir Putin shows no signs of cooling his aggression, prompting the Nato chief to warn of grave danger in the next four to five years[/caption]
“We are still spending far less than during the Cold War. Even though the threats to our freedom and security are just as big — if not bigger,” Rutte said during his first Brussels speech since becoming chief.
He insisted the current pledge of 2 per cent in each country is simply not enough to keep Russia at bay.
“Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us,” Rutte said.
He made the ominous promise that “we are not ready for what is coming our way in four or five years.”
He added: “It is time to shift to a wartime mindset, and turbocharge our defence production and defence spending.”
Rutte also made the concerning revelation that the current situation was the “worst in [his] lifetime”.
The Nato chief would not give a specific figure he thought needed to be met, but said “considerably more than two percent” is needed.
Countries in Nato began cutting defence spending after the Cold War with Russia ended, which Rutte says have left the industry “hollowed out”.
They agreed to end the cuts in 2014 when Russia’s invasion of the Crimea area of Ukraine rang alarm bells, and agreed to move spending towards two per cent.
After Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nato members agreed that two per cent should be a minimum, rather than a target.
Since launching into a war with Ukraine, Russian defence spending has jumped to more than six per cent of GDP – more than triple what some Nato members spend.
Faced with a threat its existence, Ukraine’s spending has skyrocketed to around 37 per cent – more than four times the second highest per cent spending.
Ukraine is not part of Nato, but Zelenksy is adamant that his country should join up, and has said he will not enter any peace deal without that criteria.
As a collective Nato is meeting the two per cent minimum, but around a third of the countries do not individually.
Estimates say at least 23 of the 32 member states will hit the target this year – with the UK among them at around 2.3 per cent.
The European Commission thinks that EU defence spending over the next decade needs to rise by £400 billion.
Incoming American President Donald Trump has made clear he will not cover for “delinquent” countries that do not pay their fair share towards defence.
The Nato alliance is based on an agreement that an attack on one country is considered an attack on them all – so all the other nations would step-up to defend the endangered one.
Trump’s talk around Nato has thrown into doubt whether the US would hold up the bargain and assist Nato members in a crisis.
Rutte, who used to be the Dutch prime minister, pleaded with Nato members to unite and “stop creating barriers between each other and between industries, banks and pension funds.”
He attempted to inspire the defence sector: “There is money on the table, and it will only increase. So dare to innovate and take risks.”
Rutte also warned of a “co-ordinated campaign to destabilise our societies,” which includes cyber-attacks and assassination attempts.
He said Nato must face up to the reality of China’s ambitions, warning the superpower is welling up its forces “with no transparency and no limitations” as it bullies Taiwan.
GettyPresident Zelenksy of Ukraine is desperate for his country to join the Nato alliance[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
