### NATO's Urgent Call for a 400% Increase in Air Defence Spending Amidst Rising Threats In a significant move to bolster NATO's military capabilities, Secretary-General Mark Rutte is set to advocate for a **400% increase** in air and missile defence spending. This call comes in response to the ongoing threats posed by Russia, particularly highlighted by its actions in Ukraine. Rutte's remarks, scheduled for a speech at Chatham House in London, emphasize the need for a "quantum leap" in collective defence to ensure the alliance's readiness against potential aggressions. The urgency of this proposal is underscored by the upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands, where member states are expected to discuss military budget increases, potentially aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump's push for a **5% GDP** defence spending target [https://www.nation.com.pk/10-Jun-2025/nato-chief-to-urge-400-percent-rise-in-alliance-s-air-defence]. ### Breakdown of NATO's Defence Strategy Proposal 1. **Increased Defence Spending**: - Rutte is advocating for NATO members to raise their military budgets to **3.5% of GDP**, with an additional **1.5%** allocated for security-related expenditures, aiming to meet Trump's **5%** target [https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/mark-rutte-nato-spending-russian-language-video-b2766680.html]. 2. **Focus on Air and Missile Defence**: - The proposed **400% increase** in air and missile defence is deemed essential to counteract the threats from Russia, particularly in light of its military actions in Ukraine [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/09/nato-chief-russia-quantum-leap-defence]. 3. **Strategic Military Enhancements**: - Rutte highlighted the necessity for NATO to enhance its military capabilities, including acquiring more armoured vehicles, tanks, and artillery shells to ensure effective deterrence [https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/nato-chief-urge-four-fold-boost-european-defense-spending-rcna211777]. 4. **Political Context and Implications**: - The call for increased spending comes as NATO members have been under pressure to strengthen their military readiness since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Rutte's comments reflect a broader consensus among NATO allies regarding the need for enhanced defence measures [https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-needs-400-increase-air-missile-defence-rutte-will-say-london-2025-06-09]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Current Defence Spending**: - NATO's current target for defence spending is **2% of GDP**, which many member states have struggled to meet. The proposed increase aims to significantly elevate this benchmark [https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/09/nato-chief-to-call-for-quantum-leap-in-defence-spending-over-growing-threats]. - **Military Readiness**: - Rutte's assertion that "danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends" emphasizes the ongoing need for military preparedness, suggesting that NATO must be ready for future conflicts [https://kyivindependent.com/natos-rutte-calls-for-400-increase-in-air-defenses-to-counter-russia-bloomberg-reports]. - **Upcoming NATO Summit**: - The NATO summit scheduled for June 24-25 in The Hague will be a critical platform for discussing these proposals and potentially formalizing commitments to increased military spending [https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/nato-needs-400-increase-in-air-and-missile-defence-rutte-will-say-in-london]. ### Conclusion: A Strategic Shift in NATO's Defence Posture In summary, NATO's Secretary-General Mark Rutte is advocating for a **dramatic increase** in air and missile defence spending as a response to the persistent threat from Russia. This proposal is part of a broader strategy to enhance military readiness and deterrence capabilities among member states. The key points of this initiative include: 1. **Aiming for 3.5% GDP military spending** with an additional 1.5% for security-related expenses. 2. **A critical focus on air and missile defence**, necessitating a **400% increase**. 3. **Strategic military enhancements** to ensure NATO's preparedness for future threats. 4. **Political consensus** among NATO allies regarding the urgency of these measures, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The upcoming NATO summit will be pivotal in determining the future trajectory of the alliance's defence strategy and its commitment to increased military spending [https://www.millenniumpost.in/world/quantum-leap-needed-nato-calls-for-400-defence-boost-614248].