‘Invest Now Or Learn Russian Later’: NATO Chief Wants 400% Increase In Europe’s Air Defense Spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday urged the European allies to make a “quantum leap” in military spending to deter Russia, which affirms Trump’s own longtime message, as the NATO chief called for a whopping 400% increase in the Continent’s air and missile defense budget.

“The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defense,” Rutte said before an audience of the London-based think tank Chatham House. “The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defense plans in full. The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends.”

The comments came days after he stated provocatively that Europe must invest heavily in defense now, or learn Russian later.

“If we don’t act now, the next three years, we are fine, but we have to start now, because otherwise, from three, four or five years from now, we are really under threat,” he had said. “I really mean this. Then you have to get your Russian language course out, or go to New Zealand.”

NBC reviews that all of this is happening just ahead of a key NATO meeting later in June:

Trump’s call for NATO allies to up their minimum defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP was once seen as outlandish; but last month Rutte too backed this idea and said he expected it to be adopted at NATO’s June 24-25 summit.

On Monday he made a similarly ambitious call. He asked for a “400% increase in air and missile defense” and added that “militaries also need thousands more armored vehicles and tanks, millions more artillery shells, and we must double our enabling capabilities, such as logistics, supply, transportation, and medical support.”

Canada is already seeking to demonstrate to Washington and NATO that it is taking significant strides to meet the challenge:

Canada, under pressure to spend more on its military, vowed on Monday to boost funding for the armed forces and hit NATO’s 2% military spending target this fiscal year, five years earlier than promised.

Prime Minister Mark Carney also said Canada was likely in future to devote a greater percentage of GDP on defense, given the need to replace outdated equipment and reduce its heavy reliance on Washington.

Canada just committed $60 billion in defense spending to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP target.

That’s based on an estimated $3 trillion GDP for 2025.

New jets, vehicles, drones, and Arctic surveillance are coming — but how will we afford it with rising debt and a slowing economy? pic.twitter.com/1ee30Olw7o

— Marc Nixon (@MarcNixon24) June 9, 2025

NATO defense ministers are further expected to soon formalize the following increase in spending policies:

• They’ve agreed that 3.5% of GDP would be used for “core defence spending” - such as heavy weapons, tanks, air defence.
• 1.5% of GDP per year will be spent on defense- and security-related areas such as infrastructure, surveillance, and cyber. However, the full list of flexibility has not yet been negotiated. 
• “These targets describe exactly what capabilities Allies need to invest in over the coming years,” Rutte told journalists. 

Washington could step back from Ukraine support…

If #NATO allies fail to meet the defense spending target, the #US could scale back support for #Ukraine, says @TalaMichelIssa, Chief Business Reporter. #WNewsExtra pic.twitter.com/DBRqVwakAs

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 9, 2025

This is being collectively pushed for amid heightened Cold War-style rhetoric regarding Moscow’s intentions. 

“The threats facing NATO are growing and our adversaries are certainly not waiting for us to re-arm or be ready for them to make the first move,” Rutte has also said. “We would prefer our allies move out urgently on reaching the 5%.”

Kremlin officials grab popcorn, set for more inter-NATO turmoil over the future of the alliance…

‘NATO in a very deep crisis’ over the 5% spending hike — Lavrov

‘At the same time the US is switching focus to Asia-Pacific while leaving Europe to deal with its problems on its own’ pic.twitter.com/Sqdz8NjwcC

— RT (@RT_com) June 9, 2025

But this assumes that Moscow’s war in Ukraine is fundamentally expansionist in nature, and this has not been demonstrated – it is simply assumed. It remains that President Putin has shown no interest even in some kind of outright military occupation of Kiev.

So the idea that he’s ready to invade Poland or anywhere else on NATO’s ‘Eastern flank’ next is a huge assumption. Moscow has all along pointed out that it’s the NATO alliance which expanded itself right up to Russia’s doorstep.

Unhinged fear-mongering… engaged:

Stupendously idiotic stuff here from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. pic.twitter.com/X46yZULWNL

— Daniel DePetris (@DanDePetris) June 9, 2025

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A note from Rabobank:

It’s unclear how much chickening out there is in geopolitics. Ukrainian drones just hit another Russian military target, destroying two fighter jets, as Germany’s outgoing spy boss and NATO chief Rutte both warned Russia could launch an attack against it within five years.

“Let’s not kid ourselves, we are all on the eastern flank. There is no east or west, there is just NATO,” Mr Rutte said, and the danger “will not disappear when the war in Ukraine ends.” Rutte specifically told the UK: “Spend more or learn to speak Russian.”

To help Brits appalled at the idea of learning a foreign language, and those who believe it might be better than vast state spending when fiscal deficits and public debt are sky high: “Когда мне снизят центральную банковскую процентную ставку?” (‘When do I get my rate cut?’ – that’s all that matters, right?) Even Canada is moving its Coast Guard to national defence and PM Carney will announce defence spending will be NATO’s 2% of GDP target this fiscal year – just in time for it to rise to 5% at its upcoming summit.