NATO Secretary General calls for greater investment in defence
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urges increased investment in defence and innovation, calling for bold action from Europe’s defence industry, governments and citizens to tackle modern threats.
In his first major speech as NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte delivered a powerful message under the theme "To Prevent War, NATO Must Spend More", and underscored the critical role of Europe’s defence industry in ensuring security.
Rutte called on governments to eliminate barriers that hinder cooperation, pointing in particular to the challenges around access to finance:
"Stop creating barriers between each other and between industries, banks, and pension funds. Instead, tear these barriers down. They only increase production costs, stifle innovation, and ultimately hamper our security."
Addressing the defence industry directly, he encouraged bold action:
"You need to do everything you can to keep us safe. There’s money on the table, and it will only increase. So dare to innovate and take risks! Come up with solutions to the swarms of drones and other new war tactics. Put in the extra shifts and new production lines!"
Rutte also issued a strong appeal to citizens on the issue of access to finance:
"Tell your banks and pension funds it is simply unacceptable that they refuse to invest in the defence industry ... Investing in defence is an investment in our security. It’s a must!"
Highlighting historical trends in defence spending, Rutte emphasised the need for greater financial commitment, beyond the current 2% benchmark agreed upon by NATO Allies:
"During the Cold War, Europeans spent far more than 3% of their GDP on defence. With that mentality, we won the Cold War. Spending dropped after the Iron Curtain fell. The world was safer. It is not anymore. By 2023, NATO Allies agreed to invest ‘at least’ 2%. At least… I can tell you, we are going to need a lot more than 2%."
Rutte concluded with a stark warning:
"Our defence industry, here in Europe, has been hollowed out by decades of underinvestment and narrow national industrial interests. Meanwhile, Russian arms factories are churning out war equipment around the clock. They are learning fast from the battlefield."
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