Mark Rutte is NATO secretary general.
I have always been a proud European with a transatlantic outlook. In my head and heart, I know that Europe and North America are stronger, more prosperous and more secure together. NATO is the only place that brings together the United States, Canada and Europe to practically address the most pressing issues that impact our shared security — Russia, terrorism and competition with systemic rivals and exporters of chaos. It is also the basis for the bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and so many allies that enables America to project power from European bases, including support for almost 5,000 sorties flown by the U.S. from February to April during Operation Epic Fury in Iran.
NATO is an alliance that works. But over the years, I grew more concerned by a casual assumption made by many: that when action is needed, our biggest friend and ally would provide the bulk of the muscle and pick up the bulk of the check.
Today, I say with conviction that times have changed. As we gather for our summit in Ankara, Turkey, America’s allies are making clear that their mindset has shifted. Renewed collective strength, not unhealthy dependencies, will drive peace, security and prosperity for the years ahead.
In Ankara, we are building for the future by ensuring that we have the forces and capabilities we need — and that responsibility is and will be more fairly shared. NATO is, and will always be, a transatlantic alliance, but it is essential that we rebalance our security for the better. America’s allies are stepping up. This is NATO 3.0 in action: a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO. This transformation makes all of us more secure — the U.S. and its allies alike.
NATO allies are already delivering on the commitment agreed at our summit in The Hague last year. They are providing concrete and credible plans on how to invest 5 percent of gross domestic product in defense by 2035. Remarkably, just one year into this 10-year project, European allies and Canada are already investing around 4 percent of their GDPs in defense and security. Last year, America’s NATO allies spent nearly 20 percent more on core defense than they had the year before. Looking at 2025 and 2026 combined, that’s an extra $258 billion invested. That’s near the maximum new spending that can be absorbed in such a short time — and a big win. The security of a billion people on both sides of the Atlantic depends on us investing more and better in our deterrence and defense.
Cash is crucial, but you can’t stop a missile or a tank with a dollar or a euro. The good news is that we are turning the cash into combat-ready capabilities. These significant new investments are helping reenergize a transatlantic defense industrial base.
Allies are rapidly expanding cooperation and innovation in the defense sector, leveraging advanced technologies to produce better and faster across the whole of the alliance. Industrial might and military might always go hand in hand, and we are working with industry to rapidly produce and replenish military equipment, from basic ammunition to complex weapons systems and the cutting-edge tech needed to tackle evolving threats.
As leaders gather in Ankara, we will announce tens of billions of dollars in new contracts with companies in Europe and North America. We will also demonstrate how we are investing in key technologies to meet the security demands of today and tomorrow. Capabilities made across NATO also grow economies, strengthen our technological edge and create jobs on both sides of the ocean. European defense orders are already sustaining 195,000 American jobs — $54 billion in 2025, with $300 billion more in the pipeline. And in Ankara we’ll take this further.
This is not only a project among NATO members. The growing partnership between Ukraine’s defense industry and our own industrial base benefits us all, especially in the context of drones and counter-drone technology. Ukraine is a world leader in this field, given the experience gained daily as Russia continues its war. It is clear that Ukraine’s security contributes to transatlantic security, and in Ankara we will reaffirm NATO’s support to Ukraine as it continues to defend its sovereignty. European allies and Canada are already in the lead in funding this support, including through NATO’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, which has moved billions of dollars of U.S. military equipment, paid for by America’s allies and partners, to Ukraine. This is essential as work continues to secure a peaceful end to this terrible war.
NATO is not standing still, and it is not going back. We adapt. We evolve. That means making tough decisions. It is no secret that NATO members do not always agree, but I have always believed that open and honest conversations are a strength, not a weakness. They’re the core of the democratic systems we all hold so dear. We are confident enough to have differences and to overcome them and come out stronger. In Ankara, we will show how we are investing in defense, rebalancing our security and strengthening industry so that we can continue to stay safe in a more dangerous world.
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