NATO chief urges increase in defense spending above 2%, citing escalating Russian threats

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday highlighted the urgency of bolstering defense budgets and addressing mounting security challenges.

Citing Russia's alleged aggression against Ukraine and destabilizing actions across Europe, Rutte emphasized the need for NATO members to exceed the 2% defense spending benchmark during a press briefing with Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro after arriving in Lisbon, Portugal's capital.

"Russia is challenging the resilience of our societies with acts ranging from assassination attempts to cyberattacks and sabotage," he said, reminding of a recent disruption to a critical cable connecting Latvia and Sweden in the Baltic Sea.

"We know that the goal of 2%, now set a decade ago, will not be enough to meet the challenges of tomorrow," he said, adding, "To keep NATO strong, we must, however, continue to adapt and to guarantee our security in the future; we also need to ramp up our efforts now. That also means we need to spend more on our defense."

Praising Portugal's contributions, including demining training, involvement in the F-16 coalition, and innovative maritime operations, Rutte warned that Russian threats, including activity off the Portuguese coast, remain a pressing concern.