Rutte warns NATO to accelerate defence spending and output

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that the Alliance is only at the start of a long effort to rebuild military readiness, telling reporters ahead of this week’s Foreign Ministers’ meeting that Allies must maintain momentum on deterrence, industrial output and support for Ukraine.

At the pre-ministerial press conference in Brussels, Rutte said ministers will assess progress since leaders agreed at The Hague to spend 5 percent of GDP on defence, including 3.5 percent on core military capability. He said this reflected a hard strategic shift: “That commitment to invest more in our security was a major leap which recognised our changing reality. But this is only the beginning of a long road, and we cannot be complacent.”

Rutte added that increased defence budgets will only be effective if industry can meet demand. “Increasing our investment is only truly effective if supply matches demand, and that’s why we are also rapidly scaling up production capacity,” he said, describing deeper cooperation with industry on both sides of the Atlantic as vital.

Ukraine will be central to tomorrow’s talks, with a meeting of the NATO Ukraine Council involving Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas. Rutte reiterated that Allies are working toward what he called a just and lasting peace. He also condemned Russia’s intensified strikes on civilian infrastructure as winter begins: “Russia is systematically targeting civilian infrastructure, depriving Ukrainians of heat and light.”

He noted the role of states assisting Moscow: “Russia is not alone in this war, as China continues to be its decisive enabler and Iran and North Korea also provide support.”

Rutte said European and Canadian Allies have provided billions in equipment through PURL in recent months, and signalled that more announcements are expected. He closed by urging continued collective pressure: “Allies have shown they are already willing and able to work together to ensure we can tackle the challenges effectively, keeping our 1 billion people safe today and into the future.”