NATO BOSS SAYS INCREASE DEFENCE SPENDING OR START LEARNING RUSSIAN

• Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte urged Nato countries to commit to a 'credible path' towards spending 5 per cent of their national income on defence, citing the growing threat from Russia.
• Rutte suggested that if countries fail to meet the 5 per cent defence spending target, they 'had better learn to speak Russian,' implying a potential inability to defend themselves.
• While Rutte did not specify a deadline for reaching the 5 per cent target, which is more than double what the UK currently spends on defence, he indicated ongoing consultations with allies to agree on a date.
• The UK's strategic defence review commits to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027, aiming for 3 per cent in the next parliament.
• Rutte highlighted the need for a 'quantum leap' in defence capabilities, including a 400 per cent increase in air and missile defence, warning that Russia could be ready to use force against Nato within five years.

IN FULL

Britons ‘better learn to speak Russian’ without major defence spending hike, Nato chief warns

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2025-06-10T08:04:34Z