In a bold speech on Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte revealed a plan that could shake up the priorities of European governments. Speaking at a meeting in Brussels, Rutte argued that European countries need to stop focusing so much on social welfare and instead pour more money into their military. His message? To stay safe, Europe must increase military spending—no matter the cost.
Rutte, addressing an event organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that Europe spends a huge portion of its national income on things like pensions, health care, and social security. While these are important, Rutte believes the continent needs to take a small chunk of that money and use it to strengthen its defenses. Why? To ensure that Europe can protect itself from growing threats.
“Europe spends up to a quarter of its income on welfare,” Rutte explained. “But a small fraction of that money could be used to make our military much stronger, ensuring we can protect our way of life.”
The NATO boss isn’t the first to suggest boosting defense spending. Over the years, NATO members have been gradually increasing military budgets, but Rutte believes it’s still not enough. He argued that, during the Cold War, countries spent much more on defense. If Europe wants to defend itself against Russia’s rising power, NATO will need to spend far more than the 2% of GDP currently agreed upon.
Spending Big on Weapons = Safety, According to Rutte
Rutte didn’t just talk about more military spending; he made a strong case for why it’s essential. According to him, without spending billions on weapons, Europe’s security is at risk. “Without security, there’s no freedom for our children and grandchildren,” Rutte warned. “There would be no schools, no hospitals, no businesses. There’s nothing.”
He urged the audience to make their governments understand that security must come first—above everything else. People need to accept that sacrifices today will lead to a safer tomorrow. And Rutte didn’t stop there. He also said it was crucial for banks and pension funds to stop avoiding investments in the defense industry. “Defense isn’t like drugs or pornography—it’s a must for our security.”
A Growing Push for More Military Spending
This isn’t a new idea. Back in 2014, the United States pressured NATO members to spend 2% of their GDP on military defense, especially after tensions grew between Ukraine and Russia. Since then, NATO countries have been sending billions of dollars worth of weapons and supplies to support Ukraine in its war with Russia.
But there’s a problem. While the West continues to pour money into Ukraine, it’s facing a struggle to replenish its own military stockpiles. The industry is having a hard time keeping up with the demand for weapons and ammunition, thanks in part to deindustrialization and the push for “green energy” policies that are taking resources away from defense manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military industry is thriving, supplying its forces with everything they need, defying Western expectations that sanctions would hurt its ability to fight.
The Big Question: Will Europe Choose Defense Over Welfare?
Rutte’s speech left many with a tough question: Should Europe focus more on military spending to protect itself from external threats, or should it keep prioritizing social welfare programs that directly benefit the people? With rising tensions around the globe, especially with Russia, NATO’s push for more military spending is only expected to grow.
The real challenge for European leaders will be convincing their citizens to accept that defense might be more important than ever before. And as Rutte warned, “Security matters more than anything.”
Will Europe take the risk and redirect funds from welfare to defense? The answer could shape the future of the continent’s safety and way of life.
