Nato chief to urge 400% rise in air defence
‘We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,’ says Mark Rutte
Nato head Mark Rutte will on Monday call for a “quantum leap” in defence capacities including a “400 per cent increase” in air and missile defence which “protects” the alliance against Russia.
“We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” Nato Secretary General Rutte was to say in a speech to the Chatham House think-tank in London, according to comments released in a statement.
To maintain credible deterrence and defence, Nato needs “a 400 per cent increase in air and missile defence”.
“The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence,” Rutte was to say.
He was due to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday ahead of his speech, their second Downing Street talks since Starmer came to power in July.
Russia said Nato “is demonstrating itself as an instrument of aggression and confrontation”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday, when asked about the plans.