The NATO boss today warned that Britons should start learning Russian if the UK doesn’t ramp up defence spending.
Mark Rutte issued the chilling message while in London for talks with PM Sir Keir Starmer, ahead of a NATO summit later this month.
NATO allies are expected to be asked at the gathering to agree a commitment on allocating 3.5 per cent of GDP to core defence spending by the 2030s.
A further 1.5 per cent of GDP would be required for ‘defence-related expenditure’ under Mr Rutte’s plan to strengthen the alliance.
It follows pressure from US President Donald Trump on European members of NATO to hike their military budgets.
There are questions about how the UK would fund such an huge increase – roughly equivalent to an extra £30billion annually.
Britain allocated 2.33 per cent of GDP to defence last year, and Sir Keir has only committed to reaching 2.5 per cent by April 2027.
The Labour Government has an ‘ambition’ of increasing that to 3 per cent in the next parliament – likely to run to 2034.
NATO boss Mark Rutte, speaking at Chatham House, warned that Britons should start learning Russian if the UK doesn’t ramp up defence spending
Mark Rutte issued the chilling message after travelling to London for talks with PM Sir Keir Starmer, ahead of a NATO summit later this month
Speaking at Chatham House on Monday, Mr Rutte was asked if he believed Chancellor Rachel Reeves should raise taxes to meet NATO’s commitments.
The NATO secretary-general replied: “It’s not up to me to decide, of course, how countries pay the bill.
‘Look, if you do not do this, if you would not go to the 5 per cent, including the 3.5 per cent core defence spending, you could still have the NHS… the pension system etc., but you had better learn to speak Russian.”
Mr Rutte would not reveal the deadline for when he hopes NATO allies will spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence.
Asked about a deadline, he told reporters: “I have a clear view on when we should achieve that.
‘I keep that to myself, because we are having these consultations now with allies, and these discussions are ongoing.
‘We will in the end agree on a date when we have to be there.”
When Mr Rutte met Sir Keir in No 10’s White Room this afternoon, the PM said: ‘We see NATO as the cornerstone of our defence.
‘The most effective military alliance the world has ever seen, as has been proven over 80 years.’
Speaking about the upcoming NATO summit, Sir Keir added: ‘The task of the summit obviously is to make sure that for decades to come it serves exactly that same purpose.’
Mr Rutte said: ‘I want to commend you for the strategic defence review. It is really very good stuff.
‘It is not only about the traditional things, of course we need them, like ammunition… there is also drones, innovation, building the defence industrial base. It is really broad, it is really making a big impression in Brussels I can tell you.’
Mr Rutte used a speech at Chatham House later to say a ‘400 per cent increase in air and missile’ capability is required just to maintain deterrence and defence.
He said ‘wishful thinking will not keep us safe’ as he warned NATO must become a ‘stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance’ to protect itself.
Mr Rutte said: ‘The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full.
‘The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends’.
He added: ‘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, and we must double our enabling capabilities, such as logistics, supply, transportation and medical support.’
On threats against the alliance, Mr Rutte said: ‘Wishful thinking will not keep us safe. We cannot dream away the danger.
‘Hope is not a strategy. So Nato has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance.’
He added: ‘At the summit in the Hague, I expect allied leaders will agree to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. It will be a Nato-wide commitment and a defining moment for the alliance.
‘There are two parts to this new defence spending plan: 3.5% will be invested in our core military requirements, the rest will go towards defence and security-related investments, including infrastructure and building industrial capacity.
‘5 per cent is not some figure plucked from the air. It’s grounded in hard facts.
‘The fact is we need a quantum leap in our defence. The fact is we must have more forces and capability to implement our defence plans in full.’
The US itself missed the proposed 5 per cent target by spending 3.38 per cent of GDP on defence last year – although the sheer size of its economy meant that dwarfed contributions from the rest of the alliance.
Countries such as Germany face finding upwards of $60billion a year more for the military.
Sir Keir (pictured in London this morning) has insisted the UK makes a major contribution to NATO
The increase in Italy would be equivalent to around $46billion, Canada $45billion, France £44billion and the UK roughly $40billion.
Spain – which has not invested heavily in defence up to now – could need to allocate an additional $36billion despite its economy being much smaller.
The UK’s Strategic Defence Review, published last week, recommended sweeping changes, including a greater focus on new technology, including drones and artificial intelligence based on rising budgets.
The boost to the defence budget will be confirmed by Ms Reeves in her spending review on Wednesday, when she will set out the Government’s priorities for the next three years.
