NATO Defence Ministers Meet to Finalise Capability Targets, Says Rutte

ISTANBUL, June 6 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- NATO defence ministers convened in Brussels on Thursday to finalise capability targets, which are seen as a critical foundation for future defence spending, said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

“Today is really key, because we will decide on the capability targets, and this is an important building block to decide on the money we’re going to spend in the coming years on defence,” Rutte said in a doorstep statement, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

He said the alliance must be prepared to defend itself against potential threats and reiterated the importance of deterrence.

bootstrap slideshow

“We have to invest in our air defence systems, long-range missiles, manoeuvrable land formations, and command and control systems. All of this has to happen,” he stressed, signalling the need for “huge investments” across NATO.

Rutte added that he would present his proposal on defence spending and the alliance’s new investment plan during a press conference after the meeting.

“What we will decide in The Hague -- what we will spend on defence going forward -- is rooted in what we need in terms of hard capabilities.

“That’s why it is so important we agree today on the capability targets. From there, we can assess the gaps we have,” he said.

Meanwhile, United States (US) Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the call for greater investment by member states.

“Every country has to contribute at that level of 5 per cent as a recognition of the nature of the threat. It can’t be about the flags that we love -- it has to be about the formations that we have. It’s that hard power that actually deters,” he said.

Hegseth emphasised that peace is achieved through strength and deterrence, and cautioned against overreliance on the US.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU