NATO head Mark Rutte warned the US-led transatlantic alliance on Thursday that it was not ready for the threats it would face from Russia in the coming years and called for a shift to a wartime mindset – with much higher defense spending. <\/p>\n
Rutte said future spending would have to be much higher than the current alliance target of 2% of national wealth as measured by gross domestic product (GDP). <\/p>\n
\u201cRussia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us,\u201d Rutte said in a speech in Brussels. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years,\u201d the NATO secretary-general said, adding: \u201cIt is time to shift to a wartime mindset, and turbocharge our defense production and defence spending.\u201d <\/p>\n
The alliance estimates 23 of its 32 members will meet the 2% target this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the Cold War, Europeans spent far more than 3% of their GDP on defense,\u201d Rutte said. \u201cWe are going to need a lot more than 2%,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
NATO members are grappling with renewed pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump, who has called for America\u2019s allies to spend 3% of GDP on defense. <\/p>\n
Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, said that the alliance must step up on defense production, calling on governments to \u201cstop creating barriers between each other and between industries, banks and pension funds.\u201d <\/p>\n
He sent a message to the defense industry: \u201cThere is money on the table, and it will only increase. So dare to innovate and take risks.\u201d <\/p>\n
The NATO chief also warned of a \u201ccoordinated campaign to destabilize our societies\u201d including cyberattacks and assassination attempts. <\/p>\n
Rutte also cautioned about China\u2019s ambitions, saying that Beijing is substantially building up its forces \u201cwith no transparency and no limitations.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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