NATO Chief Advises Members to Begin Learning Russian
NATO chief Mark Rutte has called on the European Parliament to increase military spending to more than 2% of GDP or to begin examining Russia's actions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Mark Rutte has urged European NATO members to significantly increase military spending or begin preparing for the possibility of intense conflict with Russia. His comments were made during a question and answer session at the recent joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence.
Rutte noted that although two-thirds of NATO members are currently meeting the 2014 target of spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, this level of funding is insufficient to ensure security against threats from Moscow. "We are safe now, but not in 4-5 years,” he stated. “So, if you don’t do it, get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand. Or decide now to spend more.” He emphasized the need for increased expenditure, saying, “I just want you to spend more money! I’ve not committed to a new number, just saying that 2% is not nearly enough.”
Rutte's call for increased military funding is not new; he has made similar suggestions previously. Last month, he proposed that EU nations consider reallocating funds from healthcare, pensions, and other social services to enhance their military budgets. He reiterated this sentiment during the recent session.
The urgency for increased military spending is underscored by the ramping up of Western European military production to aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. However, Rutte expressed concerns that current production levels are insufficient, stating, “We are not where we need to be, not yet. Our industry is still too small, it is too fragmented, and – to be honest – it is too slow.”
He also highlighted the disparity in military spending, noting that the US currently represents 60% of NATO's total military expenditure. Rutte warned that without the US, European NATO members would need to increase their defense spending to around 10% of their GDP, which he described as unrealistic. He compared NATO's production capabilities with Russia by stating that it takes NATO an entire year to produce the same amount of weapons and ammunition that Russia can manufacture in just three months, attributing this to NATO's bureaucratic challenges. He added that Russia is reportedly allocating up to 9% of its GDP for military purposes, while Russian President Vladimir Putin cited a figure of 6.3% amidst calls for prudent financial management within the military.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
Rutte noted that although two-thirds of NATO members are currently meeting the 2014 target of spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, this level of funding is insufficient to ensure security against threats from Moscow. "We are safe now, but not in 4-5 years,” he stated. “So, if you don’t do it, get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand. Or decide now to spend more.” He emphasized the need for increased expenditure, saying, “I just want you to spend more money! I’ve not committed to a new number, just saying that 2% is not nearly enough.”
Rutte's call for increased military funding is not new; he has made similar suggestions previously. Last month, he proposed that EU nations consider reallocating funds from healthcare, pensions, and other social services to enhance their military budgets. He reiterated this sentiment during the recent session.
The urgency for increased military spending is underscored by the ramping up of Western European military production to aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. However, Rutte expressed concerns that current production levels are insufficient, stating, “We are not where we need to be, not yet. Our industry is still too small, it is too fragmented, and – to be honest – it is too slow.”
He also highlighted the disparity in military spending, noting that the US currently represents 60% of NATO's total military expenditure. Rutte warned that without the US, European NATO members would need to increase their defense spending to around 10% of their GDP, which he described as unrealistic. He compared NATO's production capabilities with Russia by stating that it takes NATO an entire year to produce the same amount of weapons and ammunition that Russia can manufacture in just three months, attributing this to NATO's bureaucratic challenges. He added that Russia is reportedly allocating up to 9% of its GDP for military purposes, while Russian President Vladimir Putin cited a figure of 6.3% amidst calls for prudent financial management within the military.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
