Rutte: NATO to Help EU Increase Defence Spending

The European Union should increase defence spending and expand defence production, coordinating these processes with NATO and relying on the Alliance's goals of developing defence capabilities.  

This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during an informal meeting in Brussels, Ukrinform reports.  

‘What we can share, we will share. Because the EU should make calculations for the development of its military-industrial base based on such goals. Obviously, we should not make the enemy more aware of this than necessary, so we will see how we will move forward with this. But we have to provide the EU with everything it needs to make decisions on the development of the defence industry,’ Rutte said.  

He explained that NATO member states will determine the level of defence spending later this year, as the assessment of the needs to strengthen the Alliance's defence capabilities is underway.  

‘We have to increase defence spending and defence production. We will decide on the exact level of defence spending later in the year, based on all the capability development goals. We are currently assessing the existing gaps with each of our allies to find out where we are now and where we should be. From this, we will define the goals for capacity building. Based on this, we will decide on new defence contributions. But it is already clear that they will be significantly higher than 2 per cent (of GDP),’ he said.  

Answering journalists' questions about what exactly he meant when he said that Europeans should pay for US military aid to Ukraine, Rutte explained:  

‘What I meant was that the US will move forward with this military assistance, and that we can expect the EU to step up its efforts in terms of burden sharing.’  

On 3 February, an informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government is taking place in Brussels to discuss strengthening European security and defence.