UK sent terrifying threat to spend more on defence or 'learn to speak Russian'

The head of NATO issued a chilling warning when he suggested Britons “better learn to speak Russian” if the UK doesn’t boost defence spending. Secretary General Mark Rutte is pushing for allies to spend 5% of GDP on defence, but did not reveal a deadline for the increase.

The former Dutch PM was asked whether he thought Chancellor Rachel Reeves should raise taxes to meet increased spending targets. Speaking at Chatham House in London, Mr Rutte said “it’s not up to me decide”, but warned: “If you do not do this, if you would not go to the 5%, including the 3.5% core defence spending, you could still have the National Health Service, or in other countries their health systems, the pension system, etcetera, but you had better learn to speak Russian.” Mr Rutte’s proposed 5% spending target would require NATO allies to spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence spending, with the final 1.5% made up of “defence-related expenditure”.

He told reporters he has a “clear view” on when allies should be achieving the target but didn’t disclose it.

Mr Rutte said he was "really impressed" with last week's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and said he sees no "discrepancy" between the UK's defence spending plans and his push for 5%.

The UK intends to spend 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% in the next parliament.

“I’ve seen sometimes in the British press that there is the defence review and now there is this proposal I made about the 5%, the 3.5% core and 1.5% defence and security-related spending," he said.

“So then people are saying ‘hey there is discrepancy’, I don’t think there is. Why not? Because every country is working in cycles to constantly update its own defence strategy.”

The Secretary General said the upcoming NATO summit would focus on laying a "credible path" to 5% — a figure which US President Donald Trump has called for and something no ally is currently achieving.

Mr Rutte said NATO allies require a "quantum leap" in defence as he warned Russia could be ready to attack the military alliance by 2030.

He said: “Russia is reconstituting its forces with Chinese technology and producing more weapons faster than we thought.

"In terms of ammunition, Russia produces in three months what the whole of NATO produces in a year... Russia could be ready to use military force against NATO within five years. Five years.

“We are all on the eastern flank now.

“The new generation of Russian missiles travel at many times the speed of sound. The distance between European capitals is only a matter of minutes. There is no longer east or west. There is just NATO.”

Mr Rutte also met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Number 10 during his visit to London, praising the "very good stuff" in the defence review.