NATO Secretary General: No Alternative Apart From Dongkrak's Defense Budget Amid Russian Threats

JAKARTA - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte insists there is no alternative but to increase the defense budget given Russia's continued threat.

"Given our long-term threat to Russia, but also the massive increase in the military in China, and the fact that North Korea, China, and Iran support war efforts in Ukraine, it is very important for us to spend more budget. So it will be number one on today's agenda," Rutte told reporters before meeting with world leaders at the NATO summit in The Hague.

It was previously reported that the British government would buy a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons.

Purchase of Lockheed Martin jets will allow the British air force to carry nuclear weapons for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Downing Street said.

"In an era of radical uncertainty, we can no longer consider peace a definite thing, which is why my government invests in our national security," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.

Britain is increasing its defense budget and increasing its military power, including its submarine fleet, as it faces growing hostilities from Russia and as the United States withdraws from its traditional role as European security defenders.

The British government said the purchase of the jet would allow it to donate so-called dual-capable aircraft to NATO to carry nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the purchase was another UK strong contribution to NATO.

Britain's current nuclear counters rely solely on Trident submarine-based systems, which failed last year's test, a second consecutive test failure after one deviated from the track in 2016.

tactical nuclear weapons are aimed at using on the battlefield, in contrast to strategic weapons designed to be fired remotely.