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.