
NATO chief Rutte calls for 400% increase in alliance's air, missile defence
NATO members need to increase their air and missile defences by 400% to counter the threat from Russia, the head of the military alliance plans to say on Monday (June 9, 2025).
Secretary-General Mark Rutte will say during a visit to London that NATO must take a 'quantum leap in our collective defence' to face growing instability and threats, according to extracts released by NATO before Mr. Rutte's speech.
Mr. Rutte is due to meet U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing St. ahead of a NATO summit in the Netherlands where the 32-nation alliance is likely to commit to a big hike in military spending.
Also Read | War and talks: On Russia and Ukraine
Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defence spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Starmer has pledged to increase British defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and to 3% by 2034.
Mr. Rutte has proposed a target of 3.5% of economic output on military spending and another 1.5% on 'defence-related expenditure' such as roads, bridges, airfields and seaports. He said last week he is confident the alliance will agree to the target at its summit in The Hague on June 24-25.
At the moment, 22 of the 32 member countries meet or exceed NATO's current 2% target.
The new target would meet a demand by President Donald Trump that member states spend 5% of gross domestic product on defence. Mr. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the U.S. provides security to European countries that don't contribute enough.
Mr. Rutte plans to say in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London that NATO needs thousands more armoured vehicles and millions more artillery shells, as well as a 400% increase in air and missile defence.
'We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,' he plans to say.
'Wishful thinking will not keep us safe. We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy. So, NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance.'
European NATO members, led by the U.K. and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defence posture as Mr. Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine.
Last week, the U.K. Government said it would build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, prepare its army to fight a war in Europe and become 'a battle-ready, armour-clad nation.' The plans represent the most sweeping changes to British defences since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
27 minutes ago
- News18
Bruce Springsteens Berlin concert echoes with history and a stark warning
Last Updated: Berlin, Jun 11 (AP) Veteran rock star Bruce Springsteen, a high-profile critic of President Donald Trump, slammed the US administration as 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous" during a concert on Wednesday in Berlin. He was addressing tens of thousands of fans at a stadium built for the 1936 Olympic Games that still bears the scars of World War II and contains relics from the country's dark Nazi past. 'Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism, and let freedom reign," he said. Springsteen, long a political opponent of the president, has made increasingly pointed and contentious public statements in recent concerts. He denounced Trump's politics during a concert last month in Manchester, calling him an 'unfit president" leading a 'rogue government" of people who have 'no concern or idea for what it means to be deeply American." Springsteen is no stranger to Berlin. In July 1988, he became one of the first Western musicians to perform in East Germany, performing to a ravenous crowd of 1,60,000 East Germans yearning for American rock 'n' roll and the freedom it represented to the youth living under the crumbling communist regime. An Associated Press news story from that period says 'fireworks steaked through the sky" and hundreds of people in the audience waved handmade American flags as they sang along to 'Born in the USA." Almost four decades later, Springsteen issued a stark warning, 'The America that I love, the America that I've sung to you about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration." (AP) RUK RUK


United News of India
34 minutes ago
- United News of India
Month-long family pensioners' redressal drive in July
New Delhi, June 11 (UNI) The Government's Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare (DoPPW) will launch a ]special campaign 2.0 for redressal of 2210 grievances of family pensioners and super senior pensioners next month. According to a DoPPW statement here, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions will kick-start the month-long drive. 'A total number of 2210 pension grievances have been taken up and shared with the 51 ministries/departments/organisations for redressal under the campaign,' said the statement. At a preparatory meeting under the chairmanship of Secretary (Pension) on June 11, the guidelines issued for ensuring smooth and seamless execution of the Special Campaign 2.0 were deliberated upon in detail. Secretary (Pension) underscored that the prime objective of the campaign is to provide qualitative redressal of the grievances. Hence, it was emphasised that the grievances should be closed on the government's portal(CPENGRAMS) only after their conclusive redressal. UNI AJ SSP


Economic Times
40 minutes ago
- Economic Times
US Army 250th Anniversary Parade: President Donald Trump's 79th birthday Celebration Cost, Parade Route, Timing, Tickets, How to watch Livestream, Military Preparations, No Kings Protests and Women's March
Why Was June 14 Chosen? Celebration Cost Parade Route and Timing Live Events Military Preparations Tickets and How to Watch Livestream Event Schedule and Locations No Kings Protests and Women's March FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The US Army will hold a public festival and parade in Washington, DC, on June 14 to commemorate its 250th anniversary. The day also falls on President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. The parade and events will take place on the National Mall and surrounding areas. Army officials say this is part of a broader plan to honor the Army's event is scheduled on June 14 because it marks the founding of the Continental Army. On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Army to fight British forces. Congress appointed George Washington as commander in chief the following began nearly two years ago, but the parade was added earlier this year. Officials estimate the total cost of the event to be between $25 million and $45 million. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told Congress that the event is meant to tell the Army's story and improve festival will run from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the National Mall. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m., moving from 23rd Street NW to 15th Street NW along Constitution Avenue. The route ends around 7:30 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:45 Army has placed metal plates along the parade route to protect roads from damage by heavy equipment like Abrams tanks. The tanks are fitted with rubber track pads to reduce impact. If damage occurs, the Army will pay for event will include about 6,600 soldiers, 150 vehicles and 50 aircraft. Historical and modern Army units will march in uniform. Equipment includes Abrams tanks, Bradley vehicles, helicopters and World War-era tanks and parade and festival are free to attend. People can RSVP through Livestream coverage will be available on US Army social media platforms for those who cannot attend in day will also include a wreath-laying at Arlington Cemetery, an enlistment ceremony led by Donald Trump, a parachute jump by the Golden Knights, a concert, and equipment are being organized across the US to oppose what some groups see as a political use of the event. Organizers plan 1,800 rallies nationwide. The 'No Kings' campaign and Women's March will be part of these actions. Officials expect hundreds of thousands at these 14 is the date the Continental Army was created in 1775. Congress formed it after fighting began at Lexington and officials estimate the event will cost between $25 million and $45 million, but they haven't shared exact figures for the parade portion.