Nato general says that Brits will need to learn Russian if the UK doesn’t make one change

Warnings don't get any more sinister than that

Speaking at policy institute Chatham House yesterday (June 9), Rutte suggested it's "not up to me how countries pay the bill" while warning that UK residents may need to learn the Russian language if the government doesn't cough up.

Currently, prime minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party is on course to spend 2.5% on defence by 2027, yet 5% is the number they're being asked to reach.

"What I know is that if we want to keep our societies safe... look, if you do not do this, if you would not go to the 5%, including the 3.5% core defence spending, you could still have the National Health Service, or in other countries their health systems, the pension system... but you had better learn to speak Russian," declared Rutte (via LBC).

The Dutch politician wouldn't disclose the deadline for when he hopes NATO allies will spend that 5%, but he did go on to share with the media: "I have a clear view on when we should achieve that.

"I keep that to myself, because we are having these consultations now with allies, and these discussions are ongoing, and we will in the end agree on a date when we have to be there."

Referring to the next NATO summit, Rutte added: "I expect allied leaders will agree to spend 5% of GDP on defence. It will be a NATO-wide commitment and a defining moment for the alliance. 

"There are two parts to this new defence spending plan: 3.5% will be invested in our core military requirements, the rest will go towards defence and security-related investments, including infrastructure and building industrial capacity. 5% is not some figure plucked from the air. It's grounded in hard facts. 

"The fact is we need a quantum leap in our defence. The fact is we must have more forces and capability to implement our defence plans in full." 

Earlier this month, Germany's chief of defence general Carsten Breuer warned how Russia is amassing weapons and military equipment for a possible attack on NATO following its Ukrainian drone strike.