NATO Allies Call for Massive Defense Spending Amid Russia Threat
(MENAFN) Leaders from NATO’s eastern and northern countries, along with the alliance’s top official, issued a strong call on Monday for higher military spending and reinforced deterrence strategies in response to intensifying threats from Russia, ahead of the NATO summit later this month in The Hague.
During the joint Bucharest Nine and Nordic Countries Summit held in Vilnius, Lithuania, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the global security environment as “the most dangerous in decades.”
"We are not at war, but we are not at peace either, so we must continue to strengthen our deterrence and defense, and that means pivoting towards a full warfighting readiness -- providing significantly more forces that are well-trained, well-equipped and supported with logistics, sustainment and ammunition," he noted.
Rutte emphasized that he expects alliance members to demonstrate their commitment to collective defense at the upcoming summit by ramping up defense manufacturing and increasing financial investments in the sector.
He reaffirmed NATO’s unwavering backing of Ukraine, calling a strong, independent Ukraine a cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security.
When asked about possible doubts regarding the United States’ long-term military presence in Europe, Rutte responded that Washington remains firmly committed to NATO and Article 5, the alliance’s mutual defense pact. While acknowledging the U.S. strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific, he reassured attendees that a strong American footprint would continue in Europe.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda revealed that his country plans to allocate 4% of its GDP to defense this year, with annual spending rising to over 5% between 2026 and 2030. He also pressed for continued deliveries of long-range artillery and advanced air defense systems to bolster Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities and negotiation leverage.
Romania’s newly appointed president, Nicușor Dan, expressed satisfaction that summit participants aligned on key priorities: enhancing NATO’s strength, deepening transatlantic ties, and scaling up defense production. He also confirmed that the next summit will be held in Bucharest.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Russia continues to pose a serious danger to Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea.
"It is assessed by the Danish Defense Intelligence Service that Russia sees itself in conflict with the West and is preparing for war against NATO. We need to invest massively in our collective security, all of us, and we need to do it fast," she urged.
The Netherlands is scheduled to host the NATO Summit in The Hague on June 24–25.
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