NATO Is Considered Necessary To Increase Air Defense, Kremlin Confrontative Values

NATO missile defense base in Redzikowo, Poland. (Source: NATO)

JAKARTA - An assessment of the need to increase the air defenses of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is considered controversial by Russia and burdens taxpayers in Europe.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte plans to deliver a speech saying the military alliance needs to increase its air defense and missile by 400 percent in London on Monday local time, one of the priorities for a member summit in The Hague, the Netherlands later this month.

Secretary General Rutte will argue in his speech at the think tank Chatham House, London in order for NATO to maintain credible deterrence and defense, NATO needs to "an increase of 400 percent in air defense and missiles".

"We saw in Ukraine how Russia spread terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our sky," he said, according to a quote from his speech provided by his office.

"In fact, we need a quantum leap in our collective defenses. In fact, we must have more power and ability to carry out our defense plans in full. In fact, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," he explained.

Secretary General Rutte encouraged members to increase the defense budget to 3.5 percent of GDP and allocated 1.5 percent further for wider security-related spending to meet US President Donald Trump's request which pushed defense budget spending to 5 percent. Last month, he said he assumed the target would be approved at a summit on June 24-25.

With little easing of fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine despite calls for a ceasefire, European countries are under pressure to increase the defense budget after President Trump signaled a policy change, prompting the region to further protect itself.

Several countries say they did, with the UK promising an increase from 2.3 percent to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027 and 3 percent of GDP in the future. Meanwhile, Germany says it will need around 50,000 to 60,000 additional active troops below the new NATO target.

Separately, the Kremlin said on Monday that NATO's plans to enhance air defense capabilities and missiles are controversial and will sacrifice European taxpayers who are asked to pay to defuse threats that don't really exist.

Asked about Secretary General Rutte's speech plans regarding air defense and missiles, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters:

"(NATO) is not an instrument to maintain stability and security on this continent. It is an instrument created for confrontation and has so far kept its true nature hidden. Now NATO is showing its true nature," he said.

Peskov further said that the European taxpayers were the ones who would suffer.

"European taxpayers will spend their money to defuse the threats they say come from our country, but that's just a temporary threat," Peskov said.