The NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning that allies must commit to 5% of defence spending of their gross domestic product (GDP) or start learning Russian.
Rutte gave those countries who are now paying enough in defence spending which includes the UK that if they do not spend 5% then soon enough it will be time to “get your Russian language course out.”
Vladimir Putin is showing no signs that he wants peace as he has gone to far over the past three plus years as if he were to stop the war, he would look weak and would be ousted after 20 years of being at the helm.
NATO Defence Minister have all agreed to spend 3.5% of GDP on “core defence spending” for air defences and heavy weapons and 1.5% on cyber and infrastructure surveillance.
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The NATO chief said, “These targets describe exactly what capabilities Allies need to invest in over the coming years.
“If we don’t act now, the next three years, we are fine, but we have to start now, because otherwise, from three, four or five years from now, we are really under threat.”
Rutte added, “I really mean this. Then you have to get your Russian language course out or go to New Zealand.”
Mathew Whitaker, the US President’s ambassador to NATO has said there must be an immediate “credible progress” on defence to be made by European allies.
Whitaker said, “The threats facing NATO are growing and our adversaries are certainly not waiting for us to re-arm or be ready for them to make the first move.”
“We would prefer our allies move out urgently on reaching the 5%,” he added.
