(Reuters) - NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday the alliance's military capability targets may require members to spend as much as 3.7% of GDP on defence but this figure could be reduced with innovation and joint procurement.

NATO chief Mark Rutte told the European Union on Monday not to create barriers that would prevent companies from NATO countries that are outside the EU from taking part in its defence industrial push.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said members have to boost spending. If not Europeans should "get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand," he said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told members of the security alliance to boost defense spending or prepare to learn Russian.

In his first speech to the European Parliament since taking office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged E.U. countries on Monday to increase their defense spending, according to Politico.

Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Baltic Sentry will include frigates and maritime patrol aircraft, as well as a small fleet of naval drones.

NATO has launched Baltic Sentry to safeguard undersea infrastructure after unexplained damage to cables in the Baltic Sea.

The incidents contributed to mounting European fears of sabotage, as NATO officials accuse Russia of a growing “destabilization campaign” over their military support for Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow.