NATO chief says Russia 'trying to destabilize our countries' and calls for more defence spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on alliance members to step up their defence spending beyond their common goal of 2% of their GDP,

Transcript

00:00NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned Russia was trying to destabilize countries in the

00:07alliance as he called on members to increase defense spending.

00:12Rutte spoke at a joint briefing alongside Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro

00:17as he visited Lisbon on Monday.

00:20We also know that the goal of 2 percent now set a decade ago will not be enough to meet

00:28the challenges of tomorrow.

00:31The threat from Russia may seem distant, but let me assure you, it is not.

00:37Russian ships and long-range bombers menace the Portuguese coast.

00:42Portugal's vital undersea infrastructure is squarely in Russia's sights.

00:47During the press conference, Rutte also addressed recent cable ruptures in the Baltic Sea, saying

00:52NATO was operating alongside allies to enable a fast and coordinated response.

00:58Alongside NATO Secretary General, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro kept the commitment

01:04to reach the goal of 2 percent of GDP in defense by 2029.

01:09Mark Rutte warned that this goal, set a decade ago, will not be enough to meet the challenges

01:16of tomorrow.

01:18Luis Montenegro also showed the government's openness to anticipate this calendar, but

01:23said there should be a European consultation on investment in defense.

01:29Joana Marão Carvalho for Euronews in Lisbon.