SAEDNEWS: NATO’s Secretary General delivered a biting rebuke to European capitals on Sunday, warning that failure to increase defence spending beyond the long‑standing 2 percent GDP target would leave the Alliance ‘learning Russian’ instead of deterring Moscow.
According to Saed News, NATO’s Secretary General used pointed humour to drive home a serious message: unless member states raise their military budgets substantially, Europe risks ceding strategic ground to Russia. Speaking at a Brussels press briefing ahead of next month’s summit in The Hague, he quipped that maintaining the status quo would effectively force Alliance members “into Russian‑language lessons” rather than strengthening their collective deterrence.
Opening his remarks, the Secretary General underscored that the current 2 percent‑of‑GDP defence spending benchmark—agreed in 2014—has become outdated in light of Moscow’s accelerated military modernisation. “We must aim higher,” he told reporters, suggesting a new target range of 3.5 percent to 5 percent, with the additional funds earmarked for advanced capabilities, cyber‑defence and joint procurement programmes.
His comments come as Russia’s defence budget swelled by nearly 40 percent in 2024, driven by investments in long‑range missiles, drones and integrated air‑defence systems showcased in the conflict in Ukraine. Alliance officials warn that without a credible increase in European contributions, NATO’s strategic edge could erode, shifting the burden disproportionately onto the United States.
Several European capitals have been reluctant to meet even the 2 percent threshold, citing economic pressures and competing domestic priorities. But the Secretary General’s tongue‑in‑cheek ultimatum marks a more assertive tone, aimed at galvanising both governments and public opinion ahead of the June summit.
Analysts say that if adopted, the proposed boost would necessitate dramatic policy shifts: expanding joint armaments projects, streamlining procurement, and potentially establishing a dedicated “European Deterrence Fund” to share costs. At the same time, debates are expected over equitable burden‑sharing and exemptions for smaller economies.
As NATO prepares to convene in The Hague on June 24–25, the spotlight will be on whether member states can translate the quip into concrete pledges—or risk finding themselves ‘learning Russian’ in both language and practice.
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