The head of the North Atlantic Alliance Mark Rutte announced a fresh defence spending mark of 5 per cent of GDP for the associate States after the NATO Defence Ministers gathering in Brussels. He pointed out the areas in which allied countries must invest in the coming years. A atomic Planning Group gathering was besides convened.
The Defence Ministers gathering in Brussels was held just before the NATO summit in The Hague announced at the end of June. Secretary General of the Alliance Mark Rutte During the press conference after the meeting, he said that a new, ambitious set of targets had been agreed on regarding the capabilities that allies must invest in in the coming years. - It's air defense, fighters, Tanks, drones, staff, logistics and much more. All this is needed to keep our deterrence and defence advanced and to guarantee the safety of a billion people," said Rutte and stressed that allies must invest more in arms. – And that is the task that awaits us at the summit in The Hague. To agree on a fresh defence investment plan that will supply us with resources to deter and defend in this increasingly dangerous world," said the NATO chief. The secretary-general besides added that he would propose a fresh goal of NATO's defence spending of 5% of GDP. As he explained, 3.5% are to be spent on key defence spending and 1.5% on defence and safety investments specified as infrastructure or industry.
The subject of the talks at the Defence Ministers gathering was besides support for Ukraine. As Rutte pointed out, this year the NATO states declared over EUR 20 billion in additional military aid. The NATO-Ukraine Council met with Ukrainian defence minister Ruste Umerov and Kaja Kallas, a advanced EU typical for abroad and safety policy. The Secretary-General of the Alliance stressed that everyone wanted the war to end with lasting and just peace. He added that NATO supports United States president Donald Trump's efforts to halt bloodshed.
Rutte reported that a atomic planning group gathering was besides convened, as he stressed that atomic deterrence remains the foundation of common security. – And NATO will stay a atomic alliance as long as atomic weapons exist. To preserve peace and deter the aggressor," he commented. However, erstwhile asked how he assessed the threat from Belarus and Russia in the context of Zapad ’25 maneuvers scheduled for September, he assured that the Alliance was intensively monitoring Russian activity as well as those maneuvers.
The NATO chief besides stated that the associate States' defence ministers at the gathering had said goodbye to General Chris Cavali, the chief commander of allied forces in Europe, and yesterday the North Atlantic Council approved the appointment of U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich for this post.
