Nato chief calls for 400% boost in air and missile defences before crunch meeting with PM
The Nato Secretary General said a "quantum leap" in collective security is needed when he met Sir Keir Starmer amid calls for Britain to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP.
Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte used his speech at London's Chatham House to say that a "400% increase in air and missile" capability is required just to maintain deterrence and defence.
He said "wishful thinking will not keep us safe", as he warned that Nato must become a "stronger, fairer, and more lethal alliance" to protect itself.
The Secretary General also separately met the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary John Healey.
"The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full," Mr Rutte said during his speech in central London.
"The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends."
He added: "We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies.
"Our militaries also need thousands more armoured vehicles and tanks, millions more artillery shells, and we must double our enabling capabilities, such as logistics, supply, transportation and medical support."
Mr Rutte warned the alliance 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."
The Prime Minister has committed to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence from April 2027, with the aim of increasing that to 3% over the next parliament, a timetable which could stretch to 2034.
Mr Rutte's visit to the capital comes after he suggested that members of the alliance spend 5% of GDP on defence as part of a strengthened investment plan for the alliance.
The target would require nations to raise core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, while the remaining 1.5% is to be made up of "defence-related expenditure".
Nato leaders will gather in The Hague later this month, when the total of 5% spending target by 2035 will be discussed.
The UK's Strategic Defence Review recommended sweeping changes, including a greater focus on new technology, including drones and AI, based on rising budgets.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves will confirm the increase to the defence budget in her spending review on Wednesday, when she will set out the Government's priorities for the next three years.
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