December 5, 09:40 PM • 10638 viewsDecember 5, 10:31 PM • 14249 views03:34 AM • 13065 viewsDecember 4, 02:10 PM • 31180 viewsGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed their position on US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, stating that US actions comply with international law. Rutte also expressed concern about Iran's possible possession of nuclear weapons.
Concerns about a possible Russian attack on NATO countries are growing among Alliance members, who predict such a possibility in 3-7 years. NATO Secretary General Rutte emphasized the urgent need for a significant increase in defense budgets and strengthening of armies, and also drew attention to China's growing military power.
European and Canadian NATO allies have increased military aid to Ukraine from 20 to over 35 billion euros for the current year. This decision, made on the eve of the NATO summit in The Hague, was supported by Kyiv's allied countries.
On June 24-25, a NATO summit will be held in The Hague, where the main issues will be a new defense budget of 5% of GDP and the war in Ukraine. Spain has expressed reluctance to increase spending, and a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council is not planned.
Donald Trump plans to meet with leaders of Indo-Pacific countries during the NATO summit in the Netherlands to expand security cooperation. The meeting will discuss coordination of actions and defense spending, which NATO plans to increase to 3.5% of GDP, and with additional indicators to 5%.
Spain has agreed with NATO to be exempt from the requirement to spend 5% of GDP on defense, which Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called "disproportionate and unnecessary. " The country claims it can fulfill its obligations by spending 2.1% of GDP and had the lowest share of defense spending in the Alliance last year - 1.28% of GDP.
Spain is blocking a new NATO agreement to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, as demanded by Donald Trump. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez considers the commitment "unreasonable and counterproductive," which has angered other members of the Alliance.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take part in the NATO summit in The Hague and will meet with the Secretary General of the Alliance and European leaders. Zelenskyy's participation will involve changes in diplomatic rank to avoid awkward encounters with Trump.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is cutting jobs at the world's most powerful military alliance as part of a major restructuring.
Spain will not support NATO's proposal to raise the target for defense spending to 5% of GDP. The country considers the current 2% sufficient and will block the plan at the summit in The Hague.
The head of the EU's foreign policy, Kaja Kallas, warned of a direct threat from the Kremlin through cyberattacks, sabotage, and military maneuvers. Russia spends more on defense than all EU countries combined, which indicates preparation for long-term aggression.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, stated that if Europe does not strengthen its aid to Ukraine, Europeans will have to learn Russian. She emphasized that Ukraine is Europe's shield, and support is necessary for the security of both Ukraine and the EU itself.
G7 leaders supported Trump's initiatives for a just peace in Ukraine and are ready to increase pressure on Russia, including financial sanctions. They met with Zelensky and Rutte to discuss support for Ukraine.
G7 countries are ready to increase military support for Ukraine and rebuild the country together after the war. There will also be new sanctions against the Russian Federation, which fuels the war.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Shigeru Ishiba, thanking him for his support and discussing cooperation in the defense industry. Japan has already provided Ukraine with assistance worth over 12 billion dollars.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Mark Rutte to coordinate ahead of the NATO summit. They discussed the needs of Ukrainian soldiers, especially in air defense systems.
The Prime Minister of Australia and the NATO Secretary General met in Canada to discuss support for Ukraine and common security challenges. Australia supports Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invasion.
A meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of foreign ministers will take place at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25. They will also discuss defense spending and a new investment plan.
An international conference "Weimar+" dedicated to the security of the EU and the war in Ukraine will be held in Rome. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Sybiha, will participate in the meeting with colleagues.
The NATO summit in The Hague will consider including contributions to Ukraine's defense in the new target for defense spending. The Alliance will work to remove barriers to trade in defense products.
NATO Secretary General announced the need for a significant rearmament to deter Russia, which may attack the Alliance in 5 years. NATO leaders plan to increase military spending to 5% of GDP.
According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, it is necessary to increase investment in the development of defense capabilities. Russia produces as many munitions in three months as the entire alliance does in a year.
Mark Rutte and Hakan Fidan discussed efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. The parties also discussed preparations for the NATO summit to be held in The Hague on June 24-25.
NATO Secretary General stated that Russia produces as many munitions in 3 months as the entire alliance does in a year. He emphasized the need to explain the consequences of inaction.
Mark Rutte stated that NATO will closely monitor the joint Russian-Belarusian exercises "Zapad-2025. " The exercises will take place in September in Belarus, with the participation of 13,000 people expected.
NATO defense ministers discussed support for Ukraine and the allocation of 25 billion euros in additional security assistance. Support was also given to assistance proposals announced at the "Ramstein" meeting.
The NATO summit in The Hague will decide how much to spend on defense in the future and discuss a new investment plan. It is important to be able to defend ourselves not only today, but also in a few years.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte believes that negotiations with the Russian Federation are necessary to test Putin's intentions. He emphasized the importance of US efforts in this process to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.
NATO defense ministers will discuss support for Ukraine and strengthening deterrence. Priorities include air defense, long-range weapons, and increased defense production.
The UK will sign a NATO agreement to increase defense spending to 3. 5% of GDP by 2035, which will increase arms spending by $40.5 billion. The Prime Minister has agreed to increase rearmament funding to 3%.
