Rutte accidentally reveals proposed new NATO spending target

NATO leader Mark Rutte has inadvertently disclosed his proposed increase in defense budgets for NATO member countries. The alliance aims to establish a new agreement during the upcoming summit in The Hague, with delicate negotiations currently underway. "I expect we will agree on a high defense spending target of 5 percent in total," Rutte said today.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dick Schoof also hinted at Rutte's proposal for a significant increase, though 1.5 percentage points are not specifically earmarked for defense but for supporting measures. Schoof later revealed that NATO countries would have until 2032 to meet the new spending goal.

Rutte had previously remained tight-lipped about his proposals but disclosed the target during a meeting with NATO parliamentarians in Dayton, USA. He emphasized that the breakdown of the 5 percent remains confidential, stating, "For hard defense spending, it will be significantly more than 3 percent. There will also be a target for defense-related expenditures."