Nato chief presses UK and Europe to lift defence commitments
Mark Rutte says the alliance needs greater European military capability as Nato confronts what he describes as its most dangerous security environment in a generation.
Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged the United Kingdom and European allies to provide more military capability and continue increasing defence spending, warning that the alliance faces what he called its “most dangerous and complex security environment in a generation”.
Speaking during a visit to the UK on 16 September, Rutte said Nato needed “more UK and more Europe in the alliance”. He made the remarks at Ditchley Park after meeting Prime Minister Andy Burnham, where he said armed forces must continue to provide the “hard power Nato needs”.
Rutte urged progress towards Nato’s target of defence spending equal to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2035. The UK has budgeted to reach 2.7 per cent of GDP by the end of the next decade.
He cited Russia’s war against Ukraine, terrorism, Iran and broader geopolitical competition as threats to the alliance’s collective defence. Nato members agreed at a 2025 summit in The Hague to increase their defence spending after Donald Trump called for Europe to take greater responsibility for the continent’s security.
Rutte said Britain had a central role in strengthening Europe’s contribution to Nato. He also said the UK was leading efforts to counter Russian provocation and sabotage and was spending £3bn a year supporting Ukraine with weapons.
The UK is upgrading its Trident nuclear deterrent and conventional forces, while Germany’s military budget is projected to be twice the UK’s by 2029. Future spending levels remain commitments or forecasts rather than completed expenditure.
