People in Britain had “better learn to speak Russian” if the Government does not ramp up defence spending, Mark Rutte has suggested.
The Nato secretary general also warned that Russia could attack Nato by 2030 in a speech in London on Monday.
Asked by The Telegraph if Rachel Reeves should increase taxes to fund a defence budget of 5 per cent of GDP, Mr Rutte said: “If you do not go to the 5 per cent, including the 3.5 per cent for defence spending, you could still have the NHS…the pension system, but you better learn to speak Russian. That’s the consequence.”
The Nato secretary general has for weeks been pressuring allies to boost spending on defence and security to a combined 5 per cent in order to placate Donald Trump, who has threatened to withdraw American troops from Europe.
Mr Rutte, who also met Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Monday, was speaking hours after Russia launched its largest-ever drone attack against Ukraine, triggering Nato to scramble jets in Poland.
“We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” Mr Rutte said.
He added that Nato needs “a 400-percent increase in air and missile defence” to maintain credible deterrence and defence.
“The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence,” he said.
He said “we are all on the eastern flank”, referring to the border with Russia, adding that the distance between European capitals is “only a few minutes” for Russian missiles.
The Nato secretary general also warned that Russia could attack Nato by 2030 in a speech in London on Monday.
Asked by The Telegraph if Rachel Reeves should increase taxes to fund a defence budget of 5 per cent of GDP, Mr Rutte said: “If you do not go to the 5 per cent, including the 3.5 per cent for defence spending, you could still have the NHS…the pension system, but you better learn to speak Russian. That’s the consequence.”
The Nato secretary general has for weeks been pressuring allies to boost spending on defence and security to a combined 5 per cent in order to placate Donald Trump, who has threatened to withdraw American troops from Europe.
Mr Rutte, who also met Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Monday, was speaking hours after Russia launched its largest-ever drone attack against Ukraine, triggering Nato to scramble jets in Poland.
“We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” Mr Rutte said.
He added that Nato needs “a 400-percent increase in air and missile defence” to maintain credible deterrence and defence.
“The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence,” he said.
He said “we are all on the eastern flank”, referring to the border with Russia, adding that the distance between European capitals is “only a few minutes” for Russian missiles.
4 months ago
