NATO member states must boost their air and missile defense capabilities by 400 percent, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at Chatham House in London, speaking about a plan to build a stronger organization.
According to him, NATO defense ministers recently agreed on ambitious new goals. And although the details remain classified, the Secretary General has already emphasized some needs, in particular, strengthening air and missile defense.
"We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above.So we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies. Our militaries also need thousands more armoured vehicles and tanks. Millions more artillery shells," said Mark Rutte.
He noted the need to double supporting capabilities, such as logistics, supplies, transportation and medical support. The NATO Secretary General stressed that allies would invest in warships and aircraft.
"To give just one example, America’s Allies will procure at least 700 F-35 fighter jets in total. We will also invest in more drones and long-range missile systems. And invest more in space and cyber capabilities," added Mark Rutte.
A stronger NATO means significantly higher defense spending. According to Secretary General Alassane, all members of the organization will meet the original goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense this year. This promise was made back in 2014.
However, at the summit in The Hague, he expects Alliance leaders to agree to spend 5% of GDP on defense. This spending plan will consist of two parts.
"3.5% will be invested in our core military requirements.While the rest will go towards defence and security related investments, including infrastructure and building industrial capacity," Mark Rutte emphasized.
He also expects the upcoming NATO summit to transform the Alliance and make it stronger to ensure the safety of citizens and keep adversaries at bay.
"Because of Russia, war has returned to Europe. We also face the threat of terrorism. And fierce global competition. Russia has teamed up with China, North Korea and Iran. They are expanding their militaries and their capabilities. Putin’s war machine is speeding up – not slowing down," Mark Rutte emphasized.
We would like to remind you that the NATO summit with the participation of leaders of allied countries will be held in The Hague on June 24-26, 2025.
It was previously reported that 14 of the 32 NATO member states are falling short of the defense spending target of 2% of GDP. This information was provided in a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in the spring of 2025.