NATO chief asks European citizens to 'make sacrifices' to boost defence spending

The 32 NATO allies are currently in discussion to increase the defence spending benchmark from the current 2% of GDP.

Transcript

00:00NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte wants NATO countries to increase defense spending

00:06well beyond the 2 percent of GDP to which they are now committed.

00:11To this end, he has asked citizens to help put pressure on their governments and even

00:16make sacrifices.

00:18Your politicians need to listen to your voices.

00:22Tell them you accept to make sacrifices today so that we can stay safe tomorrow.

00:28Tell them they need to spend more on defense so that we can continue to live in peace.

00:34For example, Rutte believes that cuts will have to be made in pensions, health care and

00:38security systems in order to increase defense spending.

00:45If we don't spend more together now to prevent war, we will pay a much, much, much higher

00:52price later to fight it.

00:55Not billions, but trillions of euros.

00:58Rutte has argued that NATO faces a threat equal to or greater than the Cold War.