NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pressing European allies to increase defense spending ahead of next week’s summit in The Hague, arguing that stronger military budgets are needed to reinforce the alliance’s deterrence posture toward Russia.

The appeal comes as NATO members weigh how quickly to meet long-running pressure from Washington to carry more of the financial burden for collective defense. Rutte’s message is aimed especially at European governments that have faced criticism for lagging behind spending targets.

The summit is expected to focus on readiness, ammunition stocks, air defenses and broader support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues to shape the alliance’s agenda. For NATO leaders, the challenge is balancing immediate security needs with domestic budget constraints and public skepticism in some member states.

Rutte’s comments underscore the central issue facing the alliance: how to maintain credible deterrence in Europe while convincing member governments to invest more heavily in defense at a time of rising geopolitical tension.