Rutte: NATO to greatly expand its defence capabilities

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Wednesday that allies are to agree on new defence capability targets at the upcoming meeting of the alliance's defence ministers.

"These targets set out what forces and concrete capabilities the allies need to provide to strengthen our deterrence and defence," Rutte said.

"Air and missile defence, long-range weapons, logistics, large land manoeuvre formations are among our top priorities," he added.

"We need more resources, forces and capabilities so that we are prepared to face any threat and to implement our collective defence plans in full."

NATO defence ministers gathering in Brussels on Thursday are expected to formally adopt the top-secret plans.

The new targets are "a huge leap forward" towards a "stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance," Rutte said.

In order to ensure that the NATO targets are met, Germany and the other member states will now be assigned new national targets for their military capabilities, including weaponry.

Under the plans, the currents targets are to be increased by around 30%, sources told dpa.

The new targets are considered to be a particularly difficult challenge because the existing goals are far from being met. Senior military officials recently spoke of a gap of 30%.

"The world is becoming more dangerous," said Rutte, listing Russia's war against Ukraine, terrorism and global competition as threats.

To deliver on the new targets, NATO members will have to increase their defence spending, he added.

Allies are expected to take a decision on higher military expenditure at an upcoming leaders' summit later this month in The Hague.