BRUSSELS

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday warned that any Russian attack targeting the Baltic region would be met with a "devastating" response, reaffirming the defense alliance's commitment to defending every inch of its territory.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Thursday's meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Rutte emphasized the urgency of reinforcing deterrence and defense capabilities in response to growing global threats.

Regarding a potential Russian attack on the Baltic region, Rutte said: "Vladimir Putin should know that if he will try that, our reaction will be devastating. And he knows (it). What we have to make sure of is that it is not only devastating today, but that at all should be devastating and very effective in three, five, seven years from now. And that's why we have to spend more when it comes to the Baltic region."

Rutte said higher defense spending is essential, noting that while most allies are on track to meet the 2% of GDP target this year, "we must go further and faster" to address gaps in NATO’s collective defense plans.

He dismissed speculation over American troop withdrawals from Europe and urged allies to stop questioning Washington's stance and instead meet their own responsibilities.

"There are no plans at the moment for the US to withdraw troops. What we do know is that the US is completely committed to NATO. They expect European and Canadian allies to spend much more," he added.

The secretary-general also confirmed that Ukraine has been invited to the NATO Summit in The Hague on June 24-26.

The Thursday meeting aims to lay the groundwork for next month's NATO Summit in The Hague, with decisions expected on ambitious new capability targets, including air and missile defense, long-range weapons, and large land maneuver formations.

Ministers are also expected to discuss a new defense investment plan and convene the Nuclear Planning Group, as part of efforts to deter threats and preserve peace through credible capabilities.