NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is urging European allies to raise defense spending more quickly as the alliance prepares for its upcoming summit. He said a stronger European military role is needed to maintain credible deterrence and keep the transatlantic alliance effective.

Rutte's comments come as NATO members face renewed pressure to meet higher defense targets amid Russia's war in Ukraine and wider concerns about European security. The debate has also intensified over how the burden should be shared between the United States and European capitals.

The push for higher military budgets is likely to be one of the central issues at the summit, where leaders are expected to discuss readiness, industrial capacity, and long-term support for Ukraine. For European governments, the challenge is balancing security demands with political and economic constraints at home.

The message from NATO's top official reflects a broader shift inside the alliance: Europe is being asked to take on more responsibility for its own defense while remaining closely aligned with Washington on strategy and deterrence.