• NATO Chief Mark Rutte calls for a 400% increase in air and missile defense spending.
• The request is driven by ongoing threats from Russia, especially concerning Ukraine.
• Rutte advises NATO members to aim for a 5% GDP defense spending target at the upcoming summit.
• Britain has pledged an increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 as part of these commitments.
• Rutte warns that military capabilities must significantly expand to ensure collective defense.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has emphasized the need for a 400% increase in the alliance's air and missile defense capabilities, citing the ongoing threats posed by Russia’s military actions. Speaking at the Chatham House think tank in London, he stated, "We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies," urging that this upgrade is essential for maintaining credible deterrence and defense, according to India Times, Reuters, and TRT Global.

His comments come in preparation for a NATO summit in the Netherlands where he plans to advocate for an increase in defense spending to 5% of GDP, a target supported by US President Donald Trump as part of a broader strategy for NATO members to address security vulnerabilities. Rutte has stated, "Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," highlighting the need for enhanced military capabilities, according to South China Morning Post and New York Times.

Several NATO members, including Britain, have started outlining plans to increase their military budgets in response to this push. The UK government has committed to boosting its military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, while Germany estimates needing an additional 50,000-60,000 active soldiers to meet NATO’s defense demands, reports Dawn and India Times.

Rutte's speech aims to advocate for a strategic overhaul in NATO as he warns that without robust commitments to defense, countries could face dramatic geopolitical consequences. "NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance," he stated, underlining the urgency of the situation as NATO responds to the realities of Russian military capabilities and global security dynamics, reflecting views expressed by Reuters and TRT Global.