In his first appearance as NATO Secretary General before the European Parliament, Mark Rutte delivered a stark warning: Europe must radically increase its defense spending or risk seeing its security collapse in the coming years. come. Speaking to lawmakers Monday, the former Dutch prime minister outlined an ambitious—and controversial—vision for strengthening transatlantic defense capabilities in the face of growing global threats.
A New Era of Defense Spending
Rutte wasted no time addressing the elephant in the room: NATO spending targets. For years, NATO has urged member states to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense, a goal now met by 24 of its 32 members. But US President-elect Donald Trump has stepped up the pressure, calling on his allies to spend an impressive 5% of their GDP on defense—a figure well above even the US’s 3.38%.
Although Rutte did not support Trump’s ambitious target, he warned that Europe must aim for at least 3.6 or 3.7 percent of its GDP, particularly if countries fail to rationalize the acquisition of armaments and to encourage innovation. “Even with better cooperation, defense budgets will exceed 2%,” a mass en garde Rutte.
Europe’s Security: ‘Safe Now, But Not in Five Years’
The urgency of Rutte’s message stems from a rapidly evolving security landscape. “We are safe now, but not in four or five years,” he said, citing Russia’s ongoing destabilization campaign, rising cyber threats and challenges posed by Iran and China.
If Europe fails to act, he joked darkly, “take out your Russian language lessons or go to New Zealand.”
Closer cooperation between NATO and the EU
Rutte also stressed the importance of closer ties between NATO and the EU, institutions that have historically maintained a long-distance relationship. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed this dynamic, with the EU creating its first defense commissioner and a dedicated defense committee in the European Parliament.
Rutte supported the change but warned against overstepping the boundaries by the EU. “NATO is strong on issues like setting standards for artillery munitions, but the EU internal market will be crucial to boosting military production,” he said, urging the two institutions to focus on complementary roles.
Strengthening the defense industry in Europe
A crucial part of Rutte’s vision is to revitalize Europe’s fragmented defense industry. Applauding the EU’s 1.5 billion euro European Defense Industry Program (EDIP), Rutte called for greater integration of non-EU allies into European military production.
“Transatlantic defense industrial cooperation makes us all stronger,” he said, dismissing the idea of excluding EDIP allies as counterproductive.
Ukraine: More weapons, faster
Turning to the war in Ukraine, Rutte reaffirmed NATO’s commitment to helping Kyiv. “Peace can only come from an agreement that serves Kyiv’s interests,” he said, emphasizing the need to deliver more weapons at a faster pace. “It’s not just about Ukraine – it’s about Europe and the world.”
Time is running out
Rutte’s frank message highlights the precarious state of European defense. With threats multiplying and tensions rising, the Secretary General’s push for higher spending and deeper cooperation could define the next decade of NATO-EU relations.
The stakes have never been higher. As Rutte said: “This can’t wait. We must strengthen the resilience of our societies and critical infrastructure now.”
