NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has praised Germany’s expanding role in European defence, highlighting Berlin’s increasing military spending, defence industrial output, and support for Ukraine, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Speaking at a conference of CDU/CSU and SPD parliamentary groups in Würzburg on 28 August, Rutte opened by condemning the latest Russian missile strikes against Kyiv, which killed civilians and damaged the EU delegation’s offices. “We cannot be naive about Russia. We cannot be naive about Vladimir Putin,” he said. “And last night is evidence of that.”
Turning to Germany’s defence posture, Rutte pointed to Berlin’s dramatic increases in funding since 2018. “By 2029 Germany will spend over 150 billion Euros on its defence. That is more than doubling of what you spent in 2021 and that’s almost four times of what you spent in 2018. And that means that you really take the lead in Europe, and we need that in Europe,” he told German lawmakers.
The NATO Secretary General also underscored Germany’s industrial role, noting his visit to Rheinmetall’s new ammunition plant in Unterlüß. The factory, he said, is expected to produce 350,000 rounds annually by 2027, using an almost fully automated process.
“This is crucial, because we know that the last two years we have seen a sixfold [increase in production] compared to two years ago when it comes to ammunition. Now we have to do this also with other military gear like tanks and jets, etc. So we can do it. This is evidence that we can do it. You can turn the tide when it comes to defence production. Also here, Germany is leading.”
On Ukraine, Rutte credited successive German governments under Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz for maintaining significant support since the Russian invasion in 2022. “Next to the US, you spent most on support for Ukraine – practical support, and that is crucial. You help Ukraine to stay in the fight,” he said.
Rutte concluded by expressing hope for diplomatic progress while stressing the need to sustain Kyiv militarily. “Let’s hope that all the initiatives the American President is taking will help, I really want to commend him for breaking the deadlock with Putin to start a dialog with solutions. Let’s hope this will lead to a durable and lasting peace for Ukraine. But in the meantime we have to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay as strong in the fight as possible.”
He closed by framing his remarks as a message of gratitude: “I have not a lot of requests, but I’m here to thank you and also to explain a little bit of what is happening, in my view now with Russia and, of course, within NATO.”
Well done Germany , HMG need to wake up .Good war fighting equipment usually built by the Germans although don’t think RCH 155 Boxer is right for our Artillery platform our army should of had more choice in the matter .
For land defence of Europe west Germany was always the most important conventional aspect of NATO even compared with the USA.
With Germany and Poland rebuilding their armies Europe will have no need of US forces.
This allows us to focus on air and sea and operations in the Nordic area.
Russia does not stand a chance.
We (Europe) need space assets we do not have, more nukes including tactical options, and a few other more minor gaps need plugging as well.
We could plug those in ten years then liberate Ukraine and Belarus.
Our main problem at the moment are the Russian agents of Reform currently blocking rearmament.
Given the present uncertain stability of the political scene across Europe, it might be worth recalling that Poland fought alongside Russia in the battle of Berlin.
The idea that Britain, a permanent member of the UN security council, obliged to provide an Army Corps to NATO on demand, can skip around on the periphery leaving others to do the heavy lifting once war has been declared, is not serious.
When you say Poland fought alongside Russia, you mean –
After the Soviets invaded Poland and took part in its dismemberment. The Soviet authorities declared Poland to be nonexistent, and all former Polish citizens from the areas annexed by the Soviet Union were treated as Soviet citizens. That resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of approximately 2 million Polish citizens (including a quarter of a million prisoners-of-war and 1.5 million deportees by the NKVD and other Soviet authorities.
So, if we are going to cherry pick historical details without consideration to nuance, it might also be worth to recall that Britain also fought alongside Russia.
The Anglo-Soviet Treaty signed 1941.
The Anglo-Soviet Treaty of 1942, including 20 year political alliance.
And unlike the Polish situation, the British Government was NOT in exile and was NOT controlled by Russia.
The Artic convoys, lasted up until May 1945 – A supply-line to equip the soviets with military materiel including tanks, fighter planes, fuel, ammunition, raw materials and food. 85 merchant vessels, 16 Royal Navy warships; 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 8 other escort ships were lost.
German 20 yr bond rates are less than 3%, UK more than 5.5% – the highest this century. Germany debt to GDP is below 60%, UK is nearly 95 %. And USA about 124 % and rising.
Gold is going up gangbusters as the USD weakens. Investors are losing confidence in American leadership and management of their economy then buying up gold instead of US Bonds.
Germany could afford some of the spending compared to those two.