Rütte predicts increased requirements for defense spending in NATO: it will have to be much more than 3% of GDP
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke about his expectations for the upcoming NATO summit decision on the growth of the Alliance's defense spending. He expects that the assessment will result in at least a one-and-a-half-fold increase in the Alliance's spending requirements for its member states.
Rutte told reporters about this before the meeting of the Alliance's foreign ministers, reports "EP", Censor.NET informs.
Commenting on the statements of US officials about the need to seriously increase the defense spending of the Alliance members, the Secretary General said that the final decision is expected at the NATO summit to be held in late June in The Hague.
Rutte said that in preparation for the NATO summit, it is necessary to assess defense spending in the Alliance.
"We also need to determine exactly what goals we need to achieve and what gaps (in defense capabilities - ed.) we have. We will finalize this process (needs assessment - ed.) in early June with the defense ministers," the NATO Secretary General said.
He noted that the first analysis has already identified some problem areas.
"We have already identified, in particular, that we need more long-range capabilities. We also need to increase investments in everything related to ground forces and their equipment," Rutte said.
The NATO Secretary General predicts that the assessment will result in at least a one-and-a-half-fold increase in the Alliance's spending requirements for its member states.
"We can assume that we will have to spend much more than 3% (of GDP - ed.) to close the gaps and make sure that we can guarantee security in this part of Europe... Europeans are stepping up. And this is crucial because of the threats from Russia and the growing threats from China and North Korea," the official said.
Currently, member states are required to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.
