NATO now producing more ammunition than Russia

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that the alliance has overtaken Russia in ammunition production, a huge milestone in its industrial mobilisation since the invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at the NATO-Industry Forum in Bucharest on 6 November, Rutte described the shift as proof that NATO’s collective rearmament is accelerating after years of under-investment.

“Until recently, Russia was producing more ammunition than all NATO Allies put together. But not anymore,” he told the assembled defence ministers, military leaders and industry executives. “Across the Alliance, we are now opening dozens of new production lines and expanding existing ones. We are making more than we have done in decades.”

Rutte’s comments came as NATO pushes ahead with new defence spending goals agreed at its 2025 summit in The Hague, where leaders committed to investing five percent of GDP in defence by 2035. “Five percent is serious money, but it is what we need to stay safe,” he said, adding that this level of commitment is necessary to rebuild Europe’s military strength and meet modern threats.

The Secretary General framed his remarks around three principles driving NATO’s industrial strategy: “quantity, creativity and cooperation.” Quantity, he said, meant scaling up production and shortening delivery times across the alliance, while creativity required harnessing innovation from both established defence firms and new technology start-ups.

“To stay safe in the future, we need to outsmart our adversaries,” Rutte said. “There are creative minds in this room, from large corporations to small startups. We need what you have to offer, and we live in free societies where your creativity can thrive. So bring your ideas, put your ingenuity to the test, and use NATO as your test bed.”

He pointed to the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and the NATO Innovation Fund as examples of how the alliance is investing in dual-use technologies and emerging industries. “Through this fund, we invest in deep-tech startups that can support our defence, resilience and security,” he said. “We can help develop the next generation of innovators.”

Rutte’s central warning was that Russia’s threat to Europe will persist beyond the war in Ukraine. “The danger posed by Russia will not end when this war does,” he said. “For the foreseeable future, Russia will remain a destabilising force in Europe and the world.” He also highlighted the growing cooperation between Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and Pyongyang, describing their joint military and industrial efforts as “preparing for long-term confrontation.”

Against that backdrop, Rutte urged NATO allies and defence industries to move with urgency. “We cannot be naive. We must be prepared,” he said, quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1942 statement that “powerful enemies must be out-fought and out-produced.” He linked that idea to NATO’s own philosophy of deterrence: “We call it peace through strength. NATO will do its part, and we need industry to do yours.”

He acknowledged that many defence manufacturers are reluctant to expand capacity without firm government contracts but insisted that political and financial commitments are now in place. “Sometimes governments need to sign long-term contracts,” he said. “But I can tell you the political will is there. The money is there, the demand is there, and our security depends on it.”

Rutte urged industry leaders to “step up supply, expand existing production lines and open new ones,” adding, “Don’t let the fear of future surplus capacity keep you from meeting the real needs we face today. I have every confidence that what you produce will be purchased.”

He also noted that Europe’s defence expansion brings economic benefits as well as strategic ones. “There are great business opportunities for all of you, and real benefits for us all, because when industry steps up supply, the result is not only more security, also more economic growth and many more jobs,” he said. “The defence dividend is real, and our mission couldn’t be more worthy.”

The NATO-Industry Forum, co-organised by Allied Command Transformation and NATO Headquarters, is the alliance’s largest industry event and serves as a bridge between governments and defence companies. Rutte’s speech underscored NATO’s message that the alliance is no longer in reactive mode but is actively rebuilding its capacity for long-term deterrence.

“Dangerous times call for bold action,” Rutte concluded. “As leaders, we must take political risks. Industry must take business risks. Together we can deliver a safer and more prosperous future for us all.”