UK needs 'credible path' on defence spending, says Nato chief
Mark Rutte tells the BBC that UK ministers accept the need to make yearly steps to up spending.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "clear-eyed" about the threshold that would trigger NATO's Article 5 mutual defence clause, even though the alliance keeps its red lines secret. Rutte assured that the alliance has all the necessary response options, which may not always be public or involve tit for tat.
He claimed that Russia's recent hybrid attacks, including an attempted drone strike on a German airport, are a sign of Russian desperation in the face of heavy casualties in Ukraine. Rutte also warned that Europe must step up its own defence, predicting a "two-theatre" conflict if China launches military action against Taiwan, forcing Russia to respond.
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- Putin ‘clear-eyed’ on Article 5 threshold: NATO chief qatar-tribune.com
