NATO Chief Calls for Major Boost in Air and Missile Defense Amid Russian Threats

Urgent Need for Enhanced Defense Strategies
London: The Secretary-General of NATO, Mark Rutte, is set to announce on Monday that member nations must enhance their air and missile defense capabilities by 400% to effectively counter the threats posed by Russia.
During his visit to London, Rutte will emphasize the necessity for NATO to undertake a significant advancement in collective defense strategies, as indicated by preliminary excerpts shared by the alliance ahead of his address.
Rutte is scheduled to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street prior to a NATO summit in the Netherlands, where the alliance of 32 nations is expected to agree on a substantial increase in military expenditures.
In light of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK, like other NATO members, has been reevaluating its defense budget. Starmer has committed to raising British defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and to 3% by 2034.
Rutte has suggested a military spending target of 3.5% of economic output, along with an additional 1.5% for defense-related infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airfields, and ports. He expressed confidence that this target will be endorsed at the upcoming summit in The Hague on June 24-25.
Currently, 22 out of the 32 NATO member countries meet or exceed the existing 2% spending guideline.
This new target aligns with former President Donald Trump's demand for member states to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense. Trump has frequently criticized NATO, questioning its value and highlighting the disproportionate security contributions made by the US to European nations.
In his speech at the Chatham House think tank in London, Rutte will assert that NATO requires thousands more armored vehicles and millions of additional artillery shells, alongside a 400% increase in air and missile defense capabilities.
"We witness in Ukraine how Russia inflicts terror from above, thus we must fortify the shield that safeguards our skies," he plans to declare.
"Merely wishing for safety will not suffice. We cannot ignore the threats. Hope is not a strategy. Therefore, NATO must evolve into a stronger, fairer, and more formidable alliance."
European NATO members, spearheaded by the UK and France, are urgently working to align their defense strategies as Trump reshapes American foreign policy, seemingly marginalizing Europe in his efforts to conclude the war in Ukraine.
Recently, the UK government announced plans to develop new nuclear-powered attack submarines, prepare its military for potential conflicts in Europe, and transform into a "battle-ready, armor-clad nation." These initiatives represent the most significant alterations to British defense policies since the dissolution of the Soviet Union over thirty years ago.