# Nato chief demands Europe spend more on defence

> Mark Rutte warns the west faces its most dangerous security environment in a generation and calls on the UK and Europe to dramatically increase military spending.
- Title: Nato chief demands Europe spend more on defence · the Guardian
- Summary: Mark Rutte warns the west faces its most dangerous security environment in a generation and calls on the UK and Europe to dramatically increase military…
- Keywords: nato, mark rutte, defence spending, andy burnham, russia, ukraine, military spending, geopolitical security, donald trump, europe, news, chief
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/nato-leader-warns-of-most-dangerous-and-complex-security-environment-in-a-generation
- Published: 2026-09-16T18:46:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: nato, mark rutte, defence spending, uk, andy burnham, russia, ukraine, military spending, geopolitical security, donald trump, europe, news
## Nato faces most dangerous era yet
Mark Rutte, secretary general of the 32-country military alliance, warned that the west is confronting its most dangerous and complex security environment in a generation.

> faces the most dangerous and complex security environment in a generation
## Rutte calls for UK and Europe to spend more
The Nato chief demanded the UK and Europe provide the hard power the alliance needs, arguing that current defence spending commitments are insufficient for the threats ahead.

> It is essential that your armed forces continue to provide the hard power Nato needs
## Trump demands 3.5% spending target
Rutte is pushing the UK towards Donald Trump's demand that Nato members spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035, equivalent to about 30 billion pounds in real terms.
## UK currently falls short of target
Britain has only budgeted to increase defence spending to 2.7% of GDP by the end of the next decade, falling well short of the 3.5% target Rutte is demanding.
## Germany now outspends Britain
The UK's defence spending, historically the second largest in Nato, is now behind Germany. By 2029, Berlin's military budgets are on track to be twice that of the UK.
## UK leads pushback against Russia
Despite spending pressures, Rutte praised Britain for leading the pushback against Russian provocation and sabotage across Europe, and for spending 3 billion pounds annually supporting Ukraine.

> the UK had been a good friend to Ukraine
## Canada joins British military coalition
Canada has formally applied to join the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a rapid response military partnership of ten North Atlantic Nato members, seeking closer military cooperation with Europe.
## Key takeaway

Nato's secretary general is pushing Britain and Europe to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035, up from current commitments, to counter Russian aggression and geopolitical threats.