Davos: NATO would not be able to defend itself in four or five years if it keeps the 2% level of defense spending, Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday. Rutte expressed concerns at a panel discussion during the World Economic Forum regarding the alliance's ability to maintain adequate defense capabilities in the coming years.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rutte attributed an increase in defense spending among European NATO countries partly to US President Donald Trump's influence during his first term in 2017. Rutte explained that Trump believed the US was getting an unfavorable deal as Europe was focusing more on funding its social and healthcare systems rather than defense.

The NATO chief also expressed concerns about the alliance's industrial production capabilities compared to Russia and China. Rutte emphasized the need to increase industry production, noting that NATO's current output falls short of what is needed. He highlighted that China is producing industrial output at six times the rate of the US, and NATO's yearly production is equivalent to what Russia achieves in three months.

Rutte pointed out that Chinese products have improved in quality and are now on par with or surpassing US products. He criticized NATO's lack of innovation and insufficient collective purchasing power, which hampers the ability to secure significant contracts with industry partners.

Additionally, Rutte addressed the ongoing support for Ukraine, emphasizing that a new Trump administration's willingness to supply Ukraine could result in financial burdens for European countries. He stressed the importance of Europe contributing more to the defense efforts, as the US currently bears a larger share of the responsibility.

Rutte concluded by acknowledging Trump's assertion about the conflict's global implications, but noted that Ukraine's proximity to Europe makes it a more pressing issue for the continent.