Rutte urges NATO allies to increase defence spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged member states to remain calm and follow Lithuania’s example by increasing their defence spending, amid several incidents at military facilities across Europe.

“Carry on with the investments like the Lithuanian government is doing and the rest of NATO is doing at the moment. Carry on making NATO stronger,” Rutte said at a press conference at NATO headquarters alongside Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius.

Rutte was responding to a question about concerns among European politicians over a series of incidents at defence facilities.

In recent months, explosions or fires have occurred at several military facilities across Europe, including in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy and Poland.

By Jeyhun Aghazada