On June 9, 2025, during his visit to the UK, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered a speech at the Chatham House in London, urging allied countries to significantly increase defense spending and produce more weapons to achieve a “quantum leap” in NATO’s defense capabilities.
This speech served as a prelude to Rutte’s upcoming chairing of the summit in The Hague. He anticipates that this summit “will change our alliance, and we will build a better NATO.” He stated, “We must establish a stronger, fairer, and more lethal NATO so that we can continue to protect our people and deter our adversaries.”
Rutte pointed out that due to Russia, warfare has returned to Europe. NATO also faces threats from terrorism and intense global competition. Russia has formed alliances with China, North Korea, and Iran. He believes that “Russia is reorganizing its forces using Chinese technology and producing more weapons faster than we imagined.”
Rutte estimated that in terms of ammunition, the amount of ammunition Russia produces in three months equals the annual production of the entire NATO. Its defense industry is expected to introduce 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles, and 200 Iskander missiles this year. Russia may be prepared to use military force against NATO within five years.
In his speech, he mentioned that China is also rapidly expanding its military capabilities, “It already has the world’s largest navy.” He said, “By 2030, its operational fleet is expected to grow to 435 ships. China is also expanding its nuclear arsenal, aiming to have over 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030.”
He called for NATO to become a stronger, fairer, and more lethal alliance. At the same time, he emphasized, “We will always be a defensive alliance.”
Currently, NATO’s defense spending accounts for 2% of GDP. Rutte expects that at the Hague summit, allied leaders will agree to spend 5% of GDP on defense. This new defense spending plan is divided into two parts: 3.5% will be allocated to core military needs, and the rest will be invested in defense and security-related expenditures, including infrastructure and industrial capacity-building.
Rutte stated, “The 5% figure is not arbitrary but based on solid facts. We need to achieve a ‘quantum leap’ in collective defense to fully implement our defense plans.”
He added, “Even if the war in Ukraine ends, the danger persists. Our defense spending decisions are based on NATO’s battle plans and capability objectives, which define the forces and capabilities allies need to provide.”
He revealed that last week, NATO defense ministers agreed on new targets, “Specific details are classified, but we need to increase investments in air and missile defense by 400%. Our military also needs more armored vehicles and tanks, as well as millions of rounds of ammunition. We must double our capabilities in logistics, supply, transport, and medical support.”
He also mentioned that allies will invest in more warships and aircraft, “For instance, US allies will collectively procure at least 700 F-35 fighter jets. We will also invest in more drones and long-range missile systems, and expand investments in space and cyber capabilities.”
During his speech, Rutte also acknowledged the support the US has provided to NATO as an ally, stating, “We all benefit from the protection provided by the transatlantic alliance, and each NATO member must do their part as the burden on the US has been too great for too long.”
At the upcoming NATO summit, it is expected that US President Trump will return to the NATO stage.