MUNICH — During an engaging discussion at the Munich Security Conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for alliance members to significantly increase their defense spending, indicating that the target will be “considerably more than 3 percent” of GDP. This statement came while he was speaking at the POLITICO Pub, a focal point for key officials, lawmakers, and experts attending the event.
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously pushed NATO allies to commit to spending 5 percent of their GDP on defense, a substantial rise from the 2 percent benchmark established over a decade ago. This earlier target is now considered insufficient to address the escalating threats posed by Russia, as well as the necessity of providing military support to Ukraine.
Upcoming NATO leaders’ summit to solidify spending goals
Rutte highlighted that a consensus on future spending goals is expected to be reached at the NATO leaders’ summit scheduled for June in The Hague. He remarked, “Over the next couple of months we will get convergence” on the budget target, but stressed that prioritizing defense spending would require governments to make tough choices, potentially at the expense of social welfare programs.
Additionally, NATO is redefining its capability targets to direct the increased funding to critical areas. Rutte pointed out the current deficiencies in air defense systems, long-range missiles, and armored tanks, which are essential for maintaining robust military forces.
Call for rebalancing defense contributions among allies
Reflecting on the historical context, Rutte stated, “We have not paid enough over the last 40 years, particularly since the Berlin Wall came down.” He acknowledged the U.S. demand for a rebalancing of defense expenditures among NATO countries is “totally logical.” Despite recent remarks from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the permanence of American military presence in Europe, Rutte reassured that there is a “clear commitment to NATO” from the United States, which contributes over 50 percent of NATO’s GDP.
Furthermore, Rutte addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, stating that “everything is on the table” regarding peace negotiations. He sought to clarify contradicting statements surrounding NATO membership for Ukraine and the feasibility of recovering all territories lost to Russia. “We have to end this in a way … that Putin will not capture one square mile or one square kilometer of Ukraine,” he asserted, adding that he believes “I don’t think it will be a bad deal.”