Russia will begin cutting its defence spending next year, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Monday, even as NATO members significantly ramp up their military budgets in response to continued tensions with Moscow.
Speaking to reporters, Lavrov argued that the sharp increase in NATO defence spending—endorsed at a summit last week following pressure from US President Donald Trump—could ultimately destabilise the alliance rather than strengthen it.
Asked about remarks by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who was reported to have said that an arms race between Russia and the West could trigger the fall of President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said he thought NATO could collapse.
“Since he is such a predictor, he probably foresees that a catastrophic increase in the budget of NATO countries, according to my estimates, will also lead to the collapse of this organisation,” Lavrov said.
Despite Lavrov’s rhetoric, Russia has also committed vast resources to its military in recent years. In 2025 alone, Moscow increased defence spending to 6.3% of GDP—the highest proportion since the Cold War. Defence now accounts for 32% of Russia’s total federal budget.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, following nearly a decade of conflict in the country’s eastern region. The war has reignited Cold War-era tensions between Moscow and the West. However, both Russia and the United States have warned that any direct military confrontation between NATO and Russia could escalate into a global war.
While NATO leaders have reiterated their commitment to collective defence, describing Russia as a persistent threat, Moscow continues to deny any intention to attack a NATO member, dismissing the accusations as Western fear-mongering.
Melissa Enoch
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