In a recent interview with Bild, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for Germany to significantly increase its defense spending and production of arms. Rutte stated that Germany should 'spend more and produce more,' highlighting the ongoing threats posed by Russia and China.
Rutte pointed out that the issue of defense spending will become a central topic of debate in many European countries in the coming months. He stressed, 'We must prepare for war. Increasing defense spending is the best way to avoid war.'
He commended Germany for its military assistance to Ukraine, which has been resisting a Russian invasion for nearly three years. Rutte noted that no other NATO member state supports Kyiv to the same extent as Germany, and he expressed the desire for Germany to do even more given the scale of its economy.
Discussions among NATO allies regarding the appropriate level of defense investment are expected to take place in the near future, with Rutte assuring that the contributions will be 'much, much more than two percent' of GDP. A NATO summit is scheduled for June in The Hague.
Earlier in January, U.S. President Donald Trump called for NATO countries to increase their annual defense spending to five percent of GDP, threatening to withdraw U.S. participation in the alliance's collective defense system. Support for enhanced defense capabilities has also come from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
While Germany has met the two percent defense spending target, seven EU member states have yet to reach this benchmark.