Rutte: If NATO countries kept defense spending at 2% of GDP, they would not be able to defend themselves in three years
If NATO member states continued to finance their defense at a level of just 2% of GDP, the alliance would not be able to guarantee its defense for the next three to five years.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced this in an interview with CBS News, as reported by Ukrinform.
“If we stay at 2%, we will not be able to ensure our protection here in three to five years,” Rutte said.
He called the billions of euros that European NATO members have spent on defence in recent months “astonishing”.
“We must continue in the same spirit,” Rutte added.
Read also: US will not leave Rammstein format, support for Ukraine will continue – Rutte
Earlier, Rutte also stressed that increasing Europe's defence budget and ramping up arms production are critical to ensuring the region's security.
Source: ukrinform.net
