BRUSSELS – On Monday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged European nations to increase their defense spending, suggesting that failure to do so would leave them with the choice of learning Russian or relocating to New Zealand.
“If you’re not willing to invest in defense, you might as well take a Russian language course or head to New Zealand,” Rutte remarked during a joint session of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Defense and Security, and the parliamentary delegation for NATO relations.
He stressed the importance of enhancing Europe’s defensive capabilities, building resilience, and maintaining support for Ukraine.
“We know how to safeguard our citizens and uphold the European way of life; now we just need to take action,” Rutte stated.
According to him, the current defense spending target of two percent of GDP is insufficient. “To ensure our safety, allies will need to significantly increase their defense budgets to over three percent, ideally around 3.6 to 3.7 percent,” he emphasized.
Rutte cautioned that the future of Europe hinges on the resolution of the war in Ukraine.
“Our aim is for lasting peace. If Putin achieves his objectives, that peace will be fleeting. While we are secure now, the situation may drastically change in five years,” he warned.
He also highlighted the impracticality of envisioning a European NATO without U.S. involvement, noting that such a transition would require 10 to 15 years and necessitate defense spending of eight to 10 percent of GDP. (January 13, 2025)
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