NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is urging member states to increase air and missile defense capacity by 400% ahead of an upcoming summit. He is also calling for countries to raise defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, with an additional 1.5% for related programs. Rutte emphasized that the threat from Russia will continue even after the war in Ukraine.
Faced with rising global instability and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Europe is rapidly reshaping its defense posture. Once reliant on NATO and US backing, the European Union is now investing heavily in its own military capabilities, supply chains, and crisis preparedness.
New initiatives aim to boost production, streamline joint procurement, and ensure operational sovereignty. With growing political will and significant funding, the EU is moving toward a more autonomous and resilient defense strategy to meet current and future security challenges. Click on to learn more about how they're doing it.