Nato's secretary general, Mark Rutte, said the Western alliance faces the "most dangerous and complex security environment in a generation" and called on the UK and other European members to step up their contributions to strengthen Nato's military capabilities.
Speaking during a visit to the UK, Rutte said Nato needed "more UK and more Europe" to respond effectively to mounting geopolitical uncertainty. He framed the appeal as a demand for both increased defence capacity and sustained financial commitment from member states across the alliance's 32 countries.
Rutte praised Britain for committing to raise defence spending in line with requests from the United States, following a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He said that while the pledge was welcome, it must be followed by continued and predictable investment in forces and equipment to ensure Nato can meet future challenges.
The Nato chief's comments underscore a wider push within the alliance for burden-sharing and modernization of its military posture. Rutte urged members to view short-term pledges as the start of an ongoing effort, warning that enduring uncertainty will require sustained hard power as well as political cohesion within the alliance.
His remarks come as Nato seeks to balance deterrence and defence demands with economic pressures facing many member states. Rutte's appeal to the UK and Europe reflects growing concern among alliance leaders that current commitments may not be sufficient to preserve stability in an increasingly volatile international environment.