NATO says 'shield against Russian Federation' will cost countries more than 2% of GDP

NATO's defense plans include the creation of a "shield" to defend against Russia, the head of the alliance's military committee, Rob Bauer, said on January 16.

"We collectively need, shall we say, a shield. We are in the process of implementing defense plans, looking at what each ally needs to do to contribute to that shield," he said at a news conference in Brussels that was streamed on NATO' s website.

According to Bauer, the costs of the said activities will be significant and will require countries to allocate more than 2 percent of GDP.

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The day before, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged the alliance countries to switch to a wartime way of thinking. According to him, this is necessary to prepare for the coming dangers and prevent conflicts.

Earlier, on December 20, 2024, the Financial Times wrote that US President-elect Donald Trump will require NATO member states to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. According to Reuters, the bloc's countries do not plan to agree to such measures.

The West regularly stokes hysteria among the citizens of its countries, warning of an allegedly imminent war with Russia. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that nothing of the sort is in the country's plans.