NATO Chief Warns of Russian Hypersonic Threat: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of Russian hypersonic missiles, claiming Moscow could be ready to strike NATO countries within five years. Speaking at Chatham House, Rutte urged a 400% increase in air and missile defense and proposed raising military spending to 5% of GDP. As tensions escalate, NATO nations are being pushed to rearm urgently to counter Russia’s rapidly advancing capabilities and expanding arsenal.
NATO Chief Warns of Russian Hypersonic Threat
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has sounded a stern warning about a growing and imminent threat—Russia’s new generation of hypersonic missiles. Speaking at a recent event hosted by Chatham House in London, Rutte emphasized that Moscow’s hypersonic capabilities, with missiles traveling at several times the speed of sound, have drastically reduced the time it would take to strike European capitals. The threat, he said, is no longer theoretical. According to him, these missiles could be operational for targeting NATO countries within the next five years.
Rutte stressed that NATO must not underestimate this looming threat. He painted a picture of urgency, stating, “Let’s not kid ourselves. We are all on the eastern flank now.” The sheer speed and reach of Russia’s weapons make every NATO country potentially vulnerable within minutes. In this context, he called for a transformative “quantum leap” in collective defense capabilities.
Among the most striking proposals from Rutte was a 400% increase in air and missile defense systems to safeguard NATO’s skies. He cited the war in Ukraine as a critical example of how Russia deploys aerial terror and emphasized that NATO’s current systems are grossly underprepared to withstand such an onslaught. Additionally, he highlighted the need for thousands of new armored vehicles, tanks, and millions of artillery shells to match Russia’s escalating military posture.
A bold new proposal was made by Rutte regarding defense spending: 3.5% of GDP should be directed toward military expenditure, with an additional 1.5% going into defense-related infrastructure like roads, bridges, airfields, and seaports. This would fulfill U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that NATO members invest 5% of their GDP in defense—a demand that reflects ongoing U.S. frustration over perceived European underinvestment in their own security.
Currently, 22 out of the 32 NATO member states meet or exceed the existing 2% GDP defense target set in 2014. Rutte stated he expects all members to reach this benchmark by the end of 2025. He expressed confidence that NATO leaders would agree to the new 5% goal at their upcoming summit in The Hague on June 25.
Several NATO nations have already begun adjusting their defense postures in response. The United Kingdom recently announced plans to build up to 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines and six new ammunition factories. It has pledged to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, though timelines for further increases remain vague. Germany, under new NATO targets, will need to expand its active military force by approximately 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Khani recently announced that Canada would reach the 2% GDP mark in 2025.
In a related discussion, Joasham Bitellish, former German Ambassador to NATO and ex-security adviser to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, strongly supported Rutte’s assessment. Bitellish underlined the real threat posed by Russia, citing its current inventory of 200–300 hypersonic missiles, 350 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), 200 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and 300–600 cruise missiles. These numbers, he warned, give Russia the potential to launch devastating attacks across Europe in a matter of minutes.
Bitellish pointed to Russia’s deployment of Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad—missiles that can threaten major European cities like Berlin from a short range. He also mentioned the presence of Caliber and KH-101 cruise missiles in Russia’s arsenal. Despite this, Germany’s air defense capabilities remain dangerously underdeveloped. The country currently has only nine Patriot missile systems and one IRIS-T system (which was transferred to Ukraine). Although Germany has committed to purchasing the Israeli-American Arrow missile system, the current defenses are inadequate to protect German territory, he noted.
Rearming, he warned, is not just a question of increasing procurement speed—it also demands manpower. With Germany needing up to 60,000 additional soldiers, he questioned how this would be achieved in a country that abolished conscription in pursuit of the ideal of “eternal peace in Europe.” The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shattered that illusion, he argued, providing NATO with a long-overdue wake-up call.
Bitellish stated that the true NATO rearmament push would likely extend until 2032. But with threats escalating and procurement pipelines notoriously slow, NATO needs to act with urgency, both in military investment and in restructuring recruitment strategies across member nations.
The call to action from NATO leadership is clear: in the face of rapidly evolving military threats from Russia, the alliance can no longer afford complacency. A united, well-funded, and rapidly modernizing NATO may be the only viable deterrent left.
Disclaimer:
This blog is based on publicly available statements and reports from NATO leadership and defense experts. It does not reflect any classified or insider information. Readers are advised to consult official government releases for verified updates on defense policies.