In a speech Thursday in Brussels, NATO Secretary General warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to "wipe Ukraine off the map" and he called on the alliance "to switch to a wartime mentality and increase production and expenses in the field of defense.
"Russia is preparing for a long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us," Mark Rutte said, adding that Europeans should prepare for the possibility of Russia using "drone armies" on the continent. Putin, he added, "is trying to attack our freedom and our way of life."
"We are not ready for what will come in four to five years," said the former Dutch prime minister, who warned that NATO countries may need to spend more than 2 percent of their GDP gross domestic in the field of defense. NATO now requires its member countries to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.
During the Cold War, Mr. Rutte said, Europeans spent more than 3 percent of gross domestic product on defense, a level that has also been demanded by US President-elect Donald Trump for NATO member states.
Only 23 of NATO's 32 members are expected to meet the 2 percent target this year, according to alliance officials.
The NATO leader also called on the governments of the alliance's member countries to increase their military budgets, warning that Russia will probably spend as much as 7% or 8% of gross domestic product on defense next year.
Russia is already engaged in a "coordinated campaign to destabilize our societies," Rutte warned, citing recent "hostile actions" Moscow has taken against NATO members, including cyber attacks and assassination attempts.
"Danger is moving towards us at high speed," Mr Rutte warned. "We will not be safe in the future if we are not prepared to face this risk." VOA (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
