**Russia Says NATO’s Increased Defense Spending Will Lead to Alliance Collapse**
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made a bold statement, claiming that NATO’s decision to increase defense spending will lead to the “collapse” of the alliance. This comes as Russian officials are warning that Moscow’s own military expenditure is driving the country towards recession.
NATO leaders recently approved a new defense spending benchmark, committing members to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense and security-related expenditures by 2035. This goal has been long pushed by the United States and endorsed by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The increased defense spending is a response to Russia’s military buildup and aggression against Ukraine.
However, Russian officials are sounding the alarm that Moscow’s own military expenditure is putting pressure on the country’s economy. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov have warned that the tools used to maintain wartime growth are nearly exhausted. This is a rare public sign that all may not be well in Russia.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has also weighed in, stating that an arms race between Russia and NATO could lead to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s downfall. Lavrov’s comments seem to reflect this sentiment, with the Russian Foreign Minister reportedly saying that he predicts a catastrophic increase in the budget of NATO countries will also lead to the collapse of the alliance.
**Putin Announces Plans to Cut Military Expenditure**
In a surprising move, Putin last week announced plans to cut Moscow’s military expenditure beginning next year. This comes as a rebuke of NATO members’ plans to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP. Putin has accused Western officials of preparing for aggressive actions, saying that Europe is thinking about increasing its spending while Russia is planning to reduce its own.
**Russia’s Military Buildup Continues**
Western officials and analysts point to Russia’s surging military expenditures amid its ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, Russia’s defense budget reportedly rose 42% in real terms, reaching $462 billion. This surpasses the combined spending of all European nations, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
NATO allies have cited Russia’s military buildup, sabotage campaigns, and continued aggression against Ukraine as reasons to accelerate defense investments. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia could rebuild its military capacity to threaten NATO territory within five years, urging members to act with urgency.
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