'Invest in defence now or start learning Russian later' - NATO Secretary General

Published connected 07/06/2025 - 13:18 GMT+2•Updated 14:54

The US management has appointed Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich arsenic some nan adjacent apical US wide successful Europe arsenic good arsenic nan SACEUR. 

The assignment by Trump will beryllium particularly welcomed pursuing media reports successful caller months that nan US was considering relinquishing nan domiciled of SACUER which has ever been appointed by a US president to NATO. 

"It’s a very important determination and location is alleviation from NATO’s constituent of position arsenic it's a affirmative motion of American engagement and staffing," a US-based root acquainted pinch nan rumor told Euronews. 

US Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower was NATO’s first SACEUR successful 1951, and nan domiciled has remained pinch nan US ever since. 

“Upon completion of nationalist confirmation processes, Grynkewich will return up his assignment arsenic nan successor to General Christopher G. Cavoli, United States Army, astatine a alteration of bid ceremonial astatine nan Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe successful Mons, Belgium, expected successful nan summertime of 2025,” a connection from NATO read. 

New targets successful defence spending adopted

Meanwhile, NATO defence ministers agreed to a important surge successful defence capacity targets for each country, arsenic good arsenic moving to spending 5% of GDP connected defence. 

They’ve agreed that 3.5% of GDP would beryllium utilized for “core defence spending” - specified arsenic dense weapons, tanks, aerial defence. Meanwhile 1.5% of GDP per twelvemonth will beryllium spent connected defence- and security-related areas specified arsenic infrastructure, surveillance, and cyber. However, nan afloat database of elasticity has not yet been negotiated. 

“These targets picture precisely what capabilities Allies request to put successful complete nan coming years,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told journalists. 

The US has been pushing NATO friends to dramatically summation spending, and expects to spot ‘credible progress’ immediately, according to US Ambassador to NATO Mathew Whitaker. 

“The threats facing NATO are increasing and our adversaries are surely not waiting for america to re-arm aliases beryllium fresh for them to make nan first move,"

“We would for illustration our Allies move retired urgently connected reaching nan 5%,” he told journalists successful a briefing connected nan margins of nan meetings. 

Ambassador Whitaker besides said nan US is “counting connected Europe” to nan lead in providing Ukraine pinch nan ‘resources basal to scope a durable peace’ connected nan continent. 

Mark Rutte reiterated NATO’s caller warnings that Russia could onslaught NATO territory wrong nan adjacent mates of years. “If we don't enactment now, nan adjacent 3 years, we are fine, but we person to commencement now, because otherwise, from three, 4 aliases 5 years from now, we are really nether threat," he said, adding: "I really mean this. Then you person to get your Russian connection people out, aliases spell to New Zealand.” 

“It’s bully to person continuity astir nan US successful NATO, but pinch Ukraine it’s a different story. I conscionable don’t deliberation Trump really cares astir Ukraine," nan US-based root told Euronews. 

“Trump conscionable doesn’t attraction astir Europe – it doesn't make him richer aliases thief him politically,” nan root said. 

Referring to nan forthcoming NATO acme taking spot adjacent period successful The Hague, nan root said nan beingness of Ukraine astatine nan acme "will apt beryllium scaled back", since nan US will say, "they’re not members’ truthful they don’t request to beryllium there".