NATO chief urges higher defence spending to strengthen security

Ljubljana: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday called for higher defence spending to ensure security, as the alliance moves toward a goal of increasing collective defence investment.

Addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Ljubljana, Rutte said European allies and Canada “are now on a trajectory” to bring their defence spending closer to that of the United States.

“This is necessary to keep the Atlantic, the Arctic, Europe and the United States safe,” Rutte said, noting that member states have committed to investing 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2035, including 3.5 per cent for core defence expenditure.

At present, most of NATO’s 32 members spend less than 3 per cent of their GDP on defence, Xinhua news agency reported.

The four-day annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a consultative body for lawmakers from members and partner countries, concluded on Monday in Ljubljana with 245 delegates in attendance.

The assembly adopted six resolutions recommending stronger resilience against foreign interference, enhanced deterrence and defense, deeper transatlantic economic and security cooperation, greater stability in the Western Balkans, continued support for Ukraine, and readiness for future uncrewed warfare.

Delegates urged more investment in air and missile defense capabilities, tougher sanctions on Russia, more funding for emerging technologies such as drones, and stronger action against hybrid threats.

–IANS