“Increase your defense spending” and don’t exclude companies from non-EU allies in your efforts, was the central message of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in his speech to the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee today in Brussels.
The M. Rutte emphasized the importance of European states coming together to take greater responsibility for their own defense and security under threat from Russia, which in addition to its war in Ukraine is “escalating its destabilizing actions,” through cyber attacks, sabotage and attempted murder. “Russia is not alone, it has China, Iran, and B. Korea,” he added.
NATO countries should invest “significantly more” than 2% of their GDP in defense, M. Rutte. “The Trump administration is right – We’re not spending enough,” he said, reiterating that an achievable goal would be to increase spending to 3% of GDP.
Buy from allies
Continuing, G.G. of NATO said that there should be a “coordinated” increase in defense production in Europe, but without excluding, through this process, companies from allied countries outside the EU that could help in this direction. “The involvement of non-EU Allies in the defense of the EU is vital for Europe’s security,” Rutte said, pointing indirectly but explicitly at the US, Canada, Britain and Turkey.
“At a time when Russia, China, North Korea and Iran are increasing their defense industrial cooperation to unprecedented levels, it would be an act of self-harm to erect new barriers between the allies,” he added.
In particular for Ukraine, G.G. of NATO reiterated that it should be in a strong negotiating position when peace talks begin. “We all want this war to end, but we want a lasting peace,” said M. Rutte, noting that if Putin prevails, the peace will not last. On the security guarantees, he said that there should be a discussion with the new American administration.
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