NATO Urged to Boost Defense Spending Amid Rising Tensions with Russia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged the Alliance to adopt a wartime mindset to prevent future conflicts, emphasizing the need for increased defense production and spending. Speaking in Brussels, Rutte highlighted the urgency of adapting to emerging threats, particularly from Russia and China, whose military capabilities are rapidly advancing. He called for a "turbo-charged" approach to defense manufacturing and spending, warning that NATO risks falling behind if it does not act decisively. Rutte also noted that current defense spending targets are insufficient, suggesting they may need to increase to 3% of GDP or more.