No alternative to higher defense spending amid Russian threat, NATO's Rutte says

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Romanian Special Operations Forces (SOF) soldier is seen at Hohenfels training area on February 26, 2021. (U.S Army photo by Warrant Officer Patrik Orcutt via U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

THE HAGUE  -  There is no alternative to higher defence spending in light of the ongoing threat from Russia, NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Wednesday. 

"Given our long-term threat of Russia, but also the massive build-up of the military in China, and the fact that North Korea, China and Iran are supporting the war effort in Ukraine, it's really important we spend more. So that will be number one on the agenda today,," Rutte told reporters before meeting with world leaders at the NATO summit in the Hague.

 (Reporting by Bart Meijer; Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout // REUTERS)