NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, warned on Thursday that the alliance is not prepared for the threats it will face from Russia in the coming years and that it is time to adopt a wartime mentality, including increasing defense spending, SkyNews reports.
Mark Rutte told alliance members that they need to consider much higher defense spending, which should be well above 2% of GDP.
"Russia is preparing for a long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us," Rutte said in a speech delivered in Brussels.
"We are not prepared for what awaits us in four to five years," the NATO Secretary General said, adding: "It is time to shift to a wartime mentality and accelerate our defense production and defense spending."
The NATO Secretary General also said that the alliance must be clear about China's ambitions and warned Beijing that it is significantly strengthening its forces and intimidating Taiwan.