NATO chief calls for increased defense production as he foresees a war-bound world.

On Thursday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte depicted a dire situation and urged Europe and Canada to increase their military expenditures.

During a speech at a Carnegie Europe conference in Brussels, Rutte cautioned about Russia's potential expansion beyond Ukraine and China's increasing aggression.

"Rutte stated that the security situation was dire, as Russian bombs were falling in Ukraine, Iranian drones were flying, and North Korean soldiers were fighting, all within a short distance."

Putin poses a wider threat to Europe beyond Ukraine, as Rutte argued, stating that he "wants to crush our freedom and way of life."

"Rutte stated that Russia's actions indicate a long-term confrontation with both Ukraine and the West, and it is necessary to adopt a wartime mentality."

Rutte's comments were made prior to President-elect Trump's inauguration, despite Trump's campaign promise to end wars and increase NATO member contributions to the organization's defense budget.

Trump has stated that he does not intend to abandon Ukraine and will advocate for a peace agreement with Russia, although he has not provided details on the specifics of such an agreement.

Following Russia's annexation of Crimea a decade ago, NATO members pledged to increase their defense spending to 2% of their annual GDP.

In 2021, only six NATO member nations met the 2% spending goal, but this year, the alliance anticipates that 23 out of 32 nations will achieve the target, as per summer data.

NATO leaders have stressed that the 2% target should be viewed as a minimum since the Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022.

According to NATO, both Poland and Estonia outpaced the United States in the percentage of their GDP spent on defense this year. The U.S. is estimated to have spent 3.38% of its GDP on defense.

Politico reported that Rutte, who assumed the NATO role on Oct. 1, was the Dutch prime minister during Trump's first term and was known as a "Trump whisperer."

Planet Chronicle' Hannah Ray Lambert contributed to this report.