Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Iranian air defenses repel Israeli attack on military site in Shiraz.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Iran reports the activation of air defenses over Kashan.
IRGC: Operation to transport handmade bombs foiled in Gilan, north of Iran.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Iranian police says dismantled "electronic bomb" in west Tehran.
Israeli media: Drone explodes in Route 90 in Arraba after interception attempts failed.
Israeli media: A wave of drones since morning, with 10 drones infiltrating so far.
Israeli media: Drone still flying in Wadi Araba near Ramon Airport, south of Occupied Palestine, efforts to intercept it have failed.
Israeli media: Direct hit from drone on building in Beit She'an.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Beit She'an in Jordan Valley, amid fears of drone infiltration, explosions heard.
Mansouri: Iran's defensive capabilities far exceeded Israeli entity's expectations.

Rutte warns to raise NATO military spending to 5% or 'learn Russian'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 10 Jun 2025 09:44
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

NATO's Rutte warns member states to hike defense budgets to 5% of GDP or face consequences, saying they should “learn to speak Russian” otherwise.

Listen
  • x
  • Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte talks during his meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Dopwning Street in London, June 9, 2025 (Jordan Pettitt/AP)
    Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte talks during his meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in London, June 9, 2025.  (AP)

NATO military spending should rise sharply to confront global threats, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned, suggesting that member states failing to meet a 5% GDP benchmark might as well “learn to speak Russian.”

"If you do not go to the 5 per cent, including the 3.5 per cent for defence spending, you could still have the NHS…the pension system, but you better learn to speak Russian. That’s the consequence," Rutte said during a conference in London, according to The Telegraph.

The remarks mark a stark escalation in NATO rhetoric, with Rutte invoking what some are calling the "learn Russian threat" to pressure member states into adopting a significantly more aggressive military budget. The proposed spending includes 3.5% of GDP dedicated to defense and another 1.5% for infrastructure, the military industry, and security‑related investments, raising the total target to 5%.

Related News

Spain rejects NATO's 'unreasonable' 5% defense spending proposal

Trump's NATO attendance in doubt as US escalates threats on Iran

In recent months, Rutte has consistently framed Russia and China as mounting threats to the alliance, urging NATO countries to reorient budgets away from social services and toward militarization. The call for a NATO defense budget of 5% of GDP represents a major shift from the longstanding 2% target.

NATO affirms need for 'quantum leap' in defense

In a related Associated Press (AP) news report, Rutte emphasized the necessity of a “quantum leap” in collective defense, calling for NATO members to multiply air and missile defense capabilities by 400% to counter what he described as a potential Russian attack “within five years.” 

He noted that Russia currently outpaces NATO in producing ammunition, highlighting the urgency of dramatically scaling up capacity for armored vehicles, artillery shells, and air/missile defenses ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague later this month.

The increase comes amid what NATO officials describe as intensified activity from Russia near the bloc's eastern borders. The alliance's operations in the region have expanded, framed as part of its “containment of Russian aggression.” For its part, Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over the alliance’s growing footprint and warned against Western militarization of the European continent.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that while Moscow remains open to dialogue with NATO, it insists that any discussions occur on an equal footing. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a recent interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, dismissed claims that Russia intends to attack NATO countries, calling such warnings fabricated and politically convenient distractions. "Smart people understand perfectly well that this is a fake," Putin said.

  • Nato
  • Ukraine crisis
  • Russia
  • NATO Military Spending
  • Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Ukraine
  • Russia-Ukraine war
  • Mark Rutte
  • Vladimir Putin

Most Read

Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A motorcycle is on fire after an Israeli drone strike targeted it in the southern Lebanese village of Baraachit, June 20, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon lead to casualty, martyr

An Israeli military vehicle before it was targeted in Operation Breaking the Sword in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Gaza Resistance pounds invading Israeli forces in joint operations

Israeli occupation forces and emergency teams work next to an unpopulated building after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Haifa, occupied Palestine, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bombs Israeli Interior Ministry in tit-for-tat response

A man is evacuated by an Israeli emergency team after a missile from Iran hits in Haifa, Israel, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

1,217 injured in 'Israel' from Iran retaliation amid rising tensions

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS