나토 헤이그 정상회의 선언(The Hague Summit Declaration)

issued by the NATO Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in The Hague 25 June 2025

1. We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, have gathered in The Hague to reaffirm our commitment to NATO, the strongest Alliance in history, and to the transatlantic bond. We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – that an attack on one is an attack on all. We remain united and steadfast in our resolve to protect our one billion citizens, defend the Alliance, and safeguard our freedom and democracy.
    
2. (United in the face of profound security threats and challenges,) in particular the long- term threat( posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security_ and the persistent threat of terrorism, / Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence-and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations, in accordance with Article 3 of the Washington Treaty. Our investments will ensure we have the forces, capabilities, resources, infrastructure, warfighting readiness, and resilience needed to deter and defend in line with our three core tasks of deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.
    
3. Allies agree that this 5% commitment will comprise two essential categories of defence investment. Allies will allocate at least 3.5% of GDP annually based on the agreed definition of NATO defence expenditure by 2035 to resource core defence requirements, and to meet the NATO Capability Targets. Allies agree to submit annual plans showing a credible, incremental path to reach this goal. And Allies will account for up to 1.5% of GDP annually to inter alia(특히) protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defence industrial base. The trajectory and balance of spending (under this plan) will be reviewed in 2029, in light of the strategic environment and updated Capability Targets. Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, and, to this end, will include direct contributions towards Ukraine’s defence and its defence industry when calculating Allies’ defence spending.
    
4. We reaffirm our shared commitment to rapidly expand transatlantic defence industrial cooperation and to harness emerging technology and the spirit of innovation to advance our collective security. We will work to eliminate defence trade barriers among Allies and will leverage our partnerships to promote defence industrial cooperation.
    
5. We express our appreciation for the generous hospitality extended to us by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We look forward to our next meeting in Türkiye in 2026 followed by a meeting in Albania.

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Updated Defence Production Action Plan, Commercial Space Strategy and Rapid Adoption Action Plan

At their meeting in February 2025, NATO Defence Ministers approved NATO’s Updated Defence Production Action Plan. They approved NATO’s first Commercial Space Strategy and Rapid Adoption Action Plan at their meeting in June 2025.

On Tuesday (24 June), NATO released public versions of these documents.

The Updated Defence Production Action Plan responds to the need for Allies to produce more and faster, in a rapidly-evolving security environment. The plan aims to improve Allies’ ability to aggregate demand, deliver cutting edge capabilities, and accelerate the growth of defence industrial capacity and production, including by providing long-term orders and clear demand signals to industry. 

Developed in consultation with industry, NATO’s first Commercial Space Strategy will allow the Alliance to integrate commercial solutions more flexibly and at pace, and ensure continuous access during peacetime, crisis and conflict.  The strategy aims to create more business opportunities and cut red tape in NATO’s procurement processes, simplifying how space companies engage with the Alliance, helping to increase commercial diversity, and strengthening partnerships across the Alliance.
 
NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan substantially accelerates the adoption and integration of new technological products for defence, across all military domains. Allies commit to expedite adoption procedures, including fast-track procurement, and to allocate adequate resources to that end. Allies will embrace more acquisition risk in the early stages of development and are set to improve communication of Alliance-wide demand signals. The plan provides for new testing and experimentation opportunities in operationally-realistic, real world environments by launching the NATO Innovation Ranges and scaling the NATO Task Force X Model.

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NATO Allies step up multinational capability delivery cooperation 24 Jun. 2025 

Increasing transatlantic defence industry production capacity is imperative to meet higher defence investment demand signals and support NATO’s enhanced deterrence and defence effectively.

 

Multinational capability delivery initiatives are a cost-effective way of acquiring capabilities at speed and scale, which some Allies would not be able to do alone. 

This proven and valuable approach is gaining new momentum as Allies work to meet NATO’s newly agreed capability targets.

At the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in The Hague on Tuesday (24 June 2025), Allies signed a number of new multinational projects and expanding existing ones.  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and the United Kingdom committed to the joint acquisition, storage, transportation and management of stockpiles of defence critical raw materials, including through recycling existing products. 

This High Visibility Project will help facilitate access to a sufficient supply of defence critical raw materials such as lithium, titanium and rare earth materials, which the Allied defence industry requires to deliver the capabilities needed to keep people safe. It will also help make NATO less vulnerable to supply shocks and reduce reliance on external providers. The project supports the implementation of NATO’s Defence Critical Supply Chain Security Roadmap, agreed by NATO Defence Ministers in June 2024.

The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) programme also reached a new milestone, with Denmark and Sweden joining this initiative. In addition, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the acquisition of two additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, raising the current fleet to 12 aircraft. Launched in 2012, the MMF programme is an example of effective NATO-EU collaboration, supported initially by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and currently managed by NSPA. The fleet provides participating nations with critical capabilities in air-to-air refuelling, strategic airlift, and aeromedical evacuation.
 
Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Sweden also broke new ground in supporting the further integration of new technologies in military operations, announcing the establishment of the first NATO Innovation Ranges. These are a key pillar of NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan, which Allied Leaders are expected to endorse at the NATO Summit, and which aims to expedite innovation adoption, leverage new technologies at speed to deliver on capability targets, and increase production capacity through the inclusion of non-traditional suppliers in the defence industrial base. These ranges will enable Allies and NATO to test, refine, and validate new technological products in operationally realistic environments. 
 
The NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO), NSPA’s governing body, also signed a partnership agreement with Australia. The agreement will allow Australia’s participation in the full range of NSPA activities and services, including, but not limited to, the fields of acquisition, logistics, operational and systems support and services. This is an important milestone in NATO’s cooperation with partners around the globe.

At the signing ceremony, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska also praised the conclusion of several new framework contracts by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) since January 2025, worth 4.7 billion euros, for critical munitions sourced from across the Alliance.

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뤼터, 인도태평양 파트너 회의 발언

by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the start of the meeting with the Indo-Pacific Partners 25 Jun. 2025

(As delivered)

Good afternoon, and I'm very happy. As you know, the Indo-Pacific partners are very dear. They are here for the fourth time now at the NATO Summit, and we will now have a meeting. 
And we have that relationship between NATO and the Indo-Pacific countries, Japan and the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, not because we want to extend NATO to the Indo-Pacific, but because we have friends in the Indo-Pacific. 

And we, there is a lot of use and importance of making joint analysis of the security threats facing us here in the Euro-Atlantic, and what is happening in the Indo-Pacific, knowing that these two areas, these two theatres, are getting more and more interconnected. Look at what North Korea is now doing, basically helping the Russians in the war effort against Ukraine. 

(And then, of course, when it comes to the practical stuff.) What we are really working on is, for example, on defence industrial cooperation. There's a lot happening. All these countries have a defence industrial base. And we are working together on joint procurement, on innovation, trying to also learn the latest from the war in Ukraine. When it comes to the use of drone technology, AI, et cetera. So, these are areas where we work together.

And I will, I really want to commend all four, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the Republic of Korea for their support to Ukraine in various ways, financially, practically, that is really very important, and it means that it's not only NATO helping there. 

We are really in this, in a relationship with countries from far from here, but still very dear and near to us. So, I really want to thank you for being here. We now will go into the meeting.

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Closing press conference 25 Jun. 2025

(As delivered)

Yes, good afternoon. And we have just concluded the formal part of the NATO Summit in The Hague. Of course, there will be many other meetings later today and this afternoon. Together, Allies have laid the foundations for a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO. NATO leaders agreed on the The Hague Defence Investment Plan. And this will fuel a quantum leap in our collective defence. They agreed to boost our defence industries – which will not only increase our security (but will also create jobs). And we have reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine. All of this is crucial.

It means that no matter the challenges we face – whether from Russia or terrorism, cyberattacks, sabotage or strategic competition – this Alliance is and will remain ready, willing and able to defend every inch of Allied territory. And ensure that our one billion people can continue to live in freedom and security.

These decisions will have a profound impact on our ability to do what NATO was founded to do – deter and defend. And the key decision in that regard is to adopt the The Hague Defence Investment Plan. With this plan, Allies have agreed to invest 5% of GDP in defence. This is a significant commitment in response to significant threats to our security.

It includes at least 3.5% of GDP invested in core defence requirements – a benchmark that until today was set at 2%. A target that I am pleased to say all Allies will now meet this year or have already met. The 3.5% is to fund our militaries and the equipment they need – from our air defences to ammunition, drones, tanks, troops, and more. In addition to the 3.5% for core defence, the plan includes 1.5% of GDP that will go towards investments that support our defence and security. All to ensure we can effectively deter aggression and defend ourselves, and each other, should anyone make the mistake of attacking. Allies recognise the severity of the threats we face. And in response they have come together to agree an ambitious but essential new defence spending commitment.

Our decisions today show, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic, from the west coast of North America to our Eastern flank – all Allies are united in understanding that we need to step up to stay safe – and they are acting on it. President Trump has been clear, America is committed to NATO. He affirmed that again today in no uncertain terms. At the same time, he made clear that America expects European Allies and Canada to contribute more. And that is exactly what we see them doing. European Allies and Canada will do more of the heavy lifting, equalising their spending, and taking greater responsibility for our shared security.

Of course, work does not stop here. This is day one. We now shift from agreeing on what we need – to rolling up our sleeves and making this new plan our reality. And part of this requires that we rapidly expand our defence industrial capacity on both sides of the Atlantic.  We need quality and quantity.  We need to innovate and we need to act fast. So we will continue our work to bring down barriers. We will leverage our partnerships with the European Union, with Ukraine, and in the Indo-Pacific to foster defence industrial cooperation. And there are major economic benefits with the potential for literally millions of extra jobs across the Alliance.

The decisions made today will make NATO much stronger. They will also make NATO a fairer Alliance with Europe and Canada stepping up and carrying their fair share of the responsibility for our shared security. The resolve of Allies is clear. We are in this together. Committed to Article 5. And we are determined to stand firm. No one should doubt our capacity or determination should our security be challenged. This is the stronger, fairer and more lethal Alliance that NATO leaders have begun to build.

Of course, this is also an Alliance that stands firmly by our neighbour and partner, Ukraine. My dear friend, Volodymyr Zelensky, is here in The Hague with us at the NATO Summit, along with his team.  Our resounding message to him and the Ukrainian people is that Ukraine has our continued support, including with over 35 billion euro pledged so far this year, with more to follow. All of this, our aim is to keep Ukraine in the fight today, so that it can enjoy a lasting peace in the future. We stand by Ukraine in its pursuit of peace and will continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to NATO membership. It has been a momentous meeting today. Leaders have agreed on a trajectory that will ensure we are able to safeguard our freedom and security well into the future. And with that, I am happy to take your questions.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
All right, I will call on people and please, if you could state the outlet you're from. If I don't know that already. We'll start with Sky News, right here in the front and the centre. We need a mic here. Thank you.

Deborah Haynes, Sky News
Thank you. Deborah Haynes from Sky News. Hello. The language that you have used when talking to Donald Trump has been notable because of its flattery. Today you called him daddy, and you sent a text message to him that was gushing with praise. Is this the way that you feel that you have to act when doing business with the US president, through flattery and praise? Isn't it a bit demeaning, and doesn't it make you look weak?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
No, I don't think so. I think it's a bit of a question of taste. But I think he's a good friend, and when he is doing stuff which is, forcing us to, for example, when it comes to making more investments, I mean, would you ever think that this would be the result of this summit if he would not have been re-elected president? Do you really think that the seven or eight countries (who said yes), somewhere in the 2030s we might meet the 2%? We've now all decided the last four or five months to get to 2%. So doesn't he deserves some praise? And when it comes to Iran, the fact that he took this decisive action, very targeted, to make sure that Iran would not be able to get his hands on a nuclear capability, I think he deserves all the praise.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
All right, next question, let's come to the front here. I think it's BBC, yes. Wait for the mic please.

Jamaluddin Mousavi, BBC Persian
Jamaluddin Mousavi from BBC Persian TV. You said that attack against Iran was legal, and in accordance with the international law. But today, Kaja Kallas( the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission ) said she is not sure that it was legal and in accordance with international law. Is there any kind of disagreement between you in NATO?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
No, there's not, but it will be many views, always about international law. I think what US did last weekend is justified. This is preventing Iran and this is a request NATO has had for a long time. Position NATO has taken for a long time, that Iran should not get its hands on a nuclear deterrent. So I think it was totally justified what the US did. And I think it's also important that the American President is very much now working to get the cease fire, not only today and yesterday, but to have that ongoing over the coming weeks.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
All right. I see FT, in the halfway back.

Henry Foy, Financial Times
Secretary General, Henry Foy, Financial Times, thank you for the floor. Donald Trump has said the US won't agree with the 5%, that's for all of us to do, but not him. Is that fair in an alliance that's built on sharing and unity? And secondly, what will you do if he comes back next year and asks for more than five? Thank you.

( At a press event ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump said, “I don't think we should, but I think they should,” referring to the 5% target. His argument is that the U.S. has long carried a disproportionate share of NATO’s defense burden, and now it’s time for other countries—especially in Europe—to step up )

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Well, when it comes to the 5%, there are the two elements. One is the 3.5% core defence spending, the US is more or less there. And when it comes to the 1.5% defence related spending, we can safely assume that US is doing that. When you look at their enormous capacity when it comes to cyber fighting, cyber-crime, hybrid threats, when it comes to their infrastructure investments, when it comes to developing the defence industrial base. So, I think we can safely assume that the US is more or less at 5% already.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
All right, next, I think we'll go over to the left side again about halfway back. Washington Post.

Ellen Francis, Washington Post
Thank you. Secretary General. Ellen Francis, Washington Post. NATO Allies will have to go to great pains to convince people that this money should be spent, because of a Russian threat. But some of the comments at this summit suggest that it's all about pleasing President Trump. I think Secretary Rubio called it the Trump Summit. Do you agree that it's the Trump Summit, and how much of this pledge is about keeping the US president happy? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Well, there are two issues to this, and to the 5%. One is that there is this consistent ask from the US. This started already with Eisenhower in the 1950s, for the Europeans and the Canadians to equalize with what the US is spending. And now finally, we are going to do that.

But obviously the 3.5 core spending, and the total 5% is deeply rooted in the outcome of a process in NATO, the NATO defence planning process, which has led to agreeing, by the defence ministers two weeks ago, on our targets. So what each country needs to do, when the call would come, if the call would come, we need you to help, because there's an Article Five situation.

And we have calculated that to basically reach those targets, we need to spend 3.5% on core defence, and, of course, the 1.5 on defence and security related spending. So, there is this US request, please equalise, because it's not fair that we shoulder much more than the others are doing, and that we are carrying more weight than the others are doing. And then there is the issue of that it is really necessary because of the long-term threat by the Russians, to the whole of the Euro Atlantic area, and also the other upcoming adversaries, and of course, the situation with China, where we see this impressive military build-up. So, it is both true. The US has consistently had this request now for 60, 70 years. And finally, we will do it. And I think that's important. It makes the whole of the Alliance more stable and fairer, and it is the need, because of Russia and others.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
All right, the woman in the third row, over on the left side.

Nataliia Rop, NV (New Voice)
Nataliia [inaudible], New Voice of Ukraine. Secretary General, you have stated that this year, Canadians and Europeans have pledged 35 billion, into military support to Ukraine, and this is not even the half of the  year. In your opinion, what should be expenditure for Ukraine at the end of the year? And what amount of military aid to Ukraine could help Ukraine to win the war, not just survive?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Well on the first question, it's difficult for me to exactly predict, but you can safely assume, that the trajectory in the first almost six months now, is really north of the trajectory last year. That also, by the end of the year, it will end up north of the over 50 billion, which was pledged in 2024. So I'm positive about that, optimistic, but I'm not going to make a concrete prediction. But let's, I mean, we can safely assume that the end result will be positive. And of course, what we are doing here, we have to make sure that Ukraine can stay in the fight, that Ukraine has what it needs to be as strong as possible.

But obviously we are all, also working on getting a peace deal done, or a long-term cease fire done. And then we have to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, to prevent Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin from ever, ever trying this again in the future. And the first layer of that, making sure that Ukraine can defend itself post a peace deal, slash a long-term cease fire, obviously, is also the support we are now providing to keep them in the fight, which has to do, of course, with training. It has to do with delivering military equipment, so the command in Wiesbaden, but also the various streams of money going into Ukraine, developing Ukrainian defence industrial base, which still has about a 35 billion spare capacity. So, this all together will help Ukraine to be as strong as possible now, but also to deter the Russians post a peace deal/cease fire.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson
All right, let's come to the centre section now. I see CNN in the fourth row.
Kaitlan Collins, CNN
Thank you so much. I want to follow up on what you just said about the strikes in Iran. But first, can I ask you on Article Five? Do you believe that Article Five is subject to interpretation?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
You know, Article Five is absolutely clear. And at the same time, we have always said we will never go into details when exactly Article Five will be triggered. And why not? Because we don't want to make our adversaries any wiser.

Kaitlan Collins, CNN
Follow up on Iran, sir, you just praised the US strikes in Iran, saying that you do believe it will help prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. There have been questions about where that highly enriched uranium is, and if Iran moved it, before the United States struck on Saturday night. Do you have concerns about that, and whether or not it poses a threat to NATO?
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Look what happened last weekend. American B-2s. Nobody in the world is able to do this. Only in United States. You are 25% of the world economy. You are by far the biggest military power in the world. Only United States is capable to do this. So, B-2s, their fantastic pilots in those fighter jets, the bombs which were used to get deep into these nuclear facilities in Iran. Nobody has that type of stuff.
And history made you the leader. History made you the ones who have to take action when it is necessary. And I think what President Trump did here, is take a very targeted, surgical, operation to take out as much as possible Iran's capability to get to a nuclear weapon. And I commend him for that.
And obviously it's now up to, all the studies being done and all the details looked into what exactly has been the effect of this. But I'm personally very optimistic that this has dealt a massive blow to Iran.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson
All right, we have a very full room and limited time. Next question to the front row. There's a mic coming.

Eelco Bosch van Rosenthal, Nieuwsuur
Hello, Eelco Bosch van Rosenthal, Nieuwsuur, Dutch TV. You're dealing with a very unpredictable President, or friend, who has been all over the map on Article Five in the past. In his first term, he threatened to pull out of NATO, which he doesn't seem to do anymore. But how do you know? How are you certain that the Trump you're dealing with right now is the same version of Trump that you'll be dealing with for the rest of his term?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
I've now known for almost 10 years. He's a good friend. I trust him. He was totally right, that Europe and Canada were not basically providing to NATO what we should provide. And that the US was spending so much more on defence than the Europeans and the Canadians. Now we are correcting that. We are equalising. I think he is a man of strength, but also a man of peace. You've seen that basically now with Iran, the man of strength being able to command his B-2 bombers to go into Iran to take out a nuclear capability. But also the man of peace, who is then immediately following up with making sure that Israel and Iran will commit to a ceasefire. And I think this is exactly what you want the American President to do, provide that type of leadership. And so I find him very predictable.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson
Next question all the way in the back, DPA.

Ansgar Haase, DPA
Ansgar, German Press Agency, DPA. Secretary General, I would like to come back to Article Five. Did President Trump promise in the meeting that he would stand by the Allies until the end of his term? And if so, did he promise it without any conditions?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Can I ask you, and not you, you're a journalist, so you're totally of course free to ask all those questions, but through you to some politicians in Europe and Canada to stop worrying. United States is totally committed to NATO. United States is totally committed to Article Five. How many times do we want them to say this? And as I said before, we have now had half a year when we constantly asked the US, ‘Are you with us? With NATO, with Article Five?’ So let's look for another country in NATO, one of the other 31, Iceland, the Netherlands, France or Canada, for the next half year, to answer that question.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson
All right, limited time. Lots and lots of questions. The woman in the green jacket here in the third row.

Cathy Newman, Channel 4 News
Cathy Newman, Channel 4 News, hello. You described in the communiqué Russia as a long-term threat. Isn't Putin an immediate threat? Did you water that language down to get agreement?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
No. Of course. If you're a long-term threat, you're also a short-term threat. So he is a threat now, and he is as a threat in long term.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson
All right. Same row, the woman in the white shirt with the glasses.

Iida Hallikainen, Ilta-Sanomat
Thank you, Iida Hallikainen and from Ilta-Sanomat, Finland, Mr. Secretary General, Russia has expanded its military infrastructure near Finland's eastern border. What is Russia aiming to achieve with this? And what is NATO's message on the matter? And second, if I may, is Spain now serious about the defence spending goal?

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General
Yes on the last question, I believe so. As you know, there is this agreement to disagree that they think they can reach its capability targets by 2.1%. NATO is saying it has to be 3.5, like for all the other Allies.
All Allies will report on how they are getting to the capability targets. So we will see. And in 2029 we will anyway, have a review of all of this.

And your first question, well, let's not be naive about Russia. Of course, they are fighting this totally unprovoked war against Ukraine. But at the same time, and this is what we have been hearing, open source, from many senior military leaders in Europe, including the Chief of Defence in Germany, they are building up their armed forces and reconstituting their armed forces at such a pace that they could be ready in three, five or seven years, to attack NATO. And that is why today was so important, and today is so transformational.

Yes, to the question before, because we have to equalise with the US and end the debate, which has now been running for 60, 70 years. But particularly also because we know that there is this Russia threat, short-term, long-term, whatever. But the Russia threat is there. And we have to make sure that we can defend ourselves, and that is why we are doing this.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
Okay, we just have time for a few more questions. NHK, so fifth row here.

Sachiyo Sugita, NHK 
Sachiyo, for NHK, the public TV station of Japan. Thank you. My question is about the IP4 countries, but, which were here in The Hague. But so, I know you've been mentioning that you won't lecture the whole world, but since you were able to make this historical decision today, do you think this would trigger other countries, like the IP4 countries to, like, think twice about their threats around them and their defence spendings?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Well, we have had this close cooperation. And yesterday, an excellent meeting with the Japanese foreign minister. We will have a meeting with the senior leaders from the Indo-Pacific four countries later today, and there will be another meeting, also with President Zelenskyy and European leaders.

So but with the Indo-Pacific four, we will also meet, and this is because we know that our two areas. So the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are getting more and more connected. Look at North Korea being so closely involved now in the war efforts, and North Korean soldiers fighting on European soil against, on the Russian side, against Ukraine, that is rather historic.

So, this cooperation is important. It's very much focused on innovation, very much focused on procurement, on defence industrial production, making joint assessments of what is happening in the Indo-Pacific, what is happening in the Euro-Atlantic, and how the two are more and more interconnected. And I must say, when I'm speaking to the to the leaders, and (I was visiting Japan early April, having a long meeting with the Prime Minister, and I met him again last week in Calgary at the G7) but also the leaders of the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, they all are very much aware that, of course, part of having a deterrence is that you spend enough on it. You see in all these countries, debates ongoing on doing more where possible, but it is not up to me to advise them. Let me concentrate on the 32, and make sure that we do what we need to do. But I think that debate is taking place also in many countries outside NATO.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
Okay, I think we've just got time for a couple more questions. The centre, fifth row, gentlemen in the very centre there.

Heikki Mikael, Helsingin Sanomat 
Yes, my name is, Heikki [inaudible] from the Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat. Did you exchange views on Vladimir Putin in there, Mr. Trump seems to be in rather friendly terms with him. Would be interesting to hear what did you talked about him?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
I've not changed my views of Vladimir Putin. I don't trust the guy. And of course, I had a lot of dealings with him personally, when we had a terrible situation with Flight MH 17, the Malaysian airline flight MH 17, being shot out of the air by Russia in July 2014, and Putin telling me that he was not present in the Donbas, and that he had no dealings in Ukraine. And that this, that and the other. And these were all lies. We know that.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
Okay, for the sake of geographical diversity, all the way in the back, Telegraph.

Pim Sedee, De Telegraaf 
Pim Sedee, De Telegraaf. Mr. Rutte, I have two short questions for you right here at the back. How do you think Vladimir Putin will look at this NATO Summit in The Hague and the appointments being made between the The Hague NATO Allies? The other question, completely different one. But how do you think, how big is the role of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander, the Queen and also Amalia in organising this NATO Summit and making it into a success?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Big role. And last night was really amazing. And I mean, we are both Dutch, and we can be very fortunate to have this Royal family. Of course, they have that overview, which many politicians were there for one or two terms and can never compete with. So, we have a King here in the Netherlands who is now in that position for 12 years. And you sense that, I mean, the breadth, the bandwith from which he is speaking, including with the American President and other leaders, is really impressive.
And I've seen the same before with his mother, Queen Beatrix.

So that is one of the huge advantages of being, of having a monarchy, and I would say, well, to your and my country, let's be happy and let's be glad and grateful that his family is willing to do that. On the other question, I mean, look what Putin achieved. He wanted to divide the West, and now Finland and Sweden have joined NATO. He wanted to defy the West and now we have committed to a 5% spending target. So, he cannot be very happy, and he should not be very happy.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
All the way in the front on the left.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Okay, never give the microphone away.

Dejan Sajinovic, Nezavisne Novine 
I will stand up so that you can see me. Dejan Sajinovic, Nezavisne newspaper from Bosnia Herzegovina. Thank you very much for this opportunity. So, for the Western Balkans, for the first time, long time, it hasn't been mentioned in the communique. What does it mean for our region? You yourself are several times talking about the importance of the region for the Alliance. What can you tell us, why it's not mentioned?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Yeah. But again, this is not your traditional communique, which you would see in the UN or in NATO in the past, where you would have 60 pages, 90 paragraphs, basically talking about the world from the birth of Jesus up to today and everything in between. I mean, that's dumb. We try to focus. So we are still very much concerned. KFOR(나토 코소보 평화유지군, 1999~) is there in Kosovo. EUFOR(EU 보스니아 평화유지군) is there in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was visiting the region. Had extensive talks with leadership in Bosnia, in Kosovo. I had a dinner in Brussels with the President of Serbia. So, we are very much involved with NATO. The EU, of course, is very much involved. We closely coordinate with Kaja Kallas and Ursula von der Leyen on the European side.

But what we really want to do here is not to recall all the language, like the irreversible path of Ukraine into NATO. It's still there, nothing changed. But really to focus on three core issues in five paragraphs, and one of the paragraphs is about the next meeting. So basically, four paragraphs, and that is about, as you know, production, spending, and Ukraine.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
Okay, final question to the young reporters in the front.

Dutch youth correspondents
Thank you very much for this opportunity, Secretary General, we are the youth correspondents.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
Absolutely, and you are here now for two days, and you've been marvellous.

Dutch youth correspondents
Thank you. There's a lot happening in this world, and many children worry about it. Do you think we children can also fight for peace, or should we trust that you could bring peace to the world? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
I cannot personally bring peace to the world, but what we can do collectively is to make sure that we are so well prepared, we are so strong, that nobody will ever attack us. So, the best way to preserve your future and that our children can live in a democratic, free, open society, where you can be who you want to be, think what you want, a free press, what you basically have in the West.

And let's be honest, it's fantastic. Is to make sure that we spend enough on our defence, particularly if we know that we have some adversaries who are really trying to get at us. So that's the best way to preserve your future, and that's what we try to do today to make that commitment. But you standing here is really touching, and we've seen each other for two days. We know each other for longer time. I really want to thank you both, and in you, all the free press sitting in this room for your fantastic work, and see you soon in Brussels or elsewhere, bye-bye, take care. Thanks.

Allison Hart, Acting NATO Spokesperson 
Thank you all very much. That's all we have time for today.

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NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum 2025 – Time to ‘unite, innovate & deliver’ 24 Jun. 2025 -

On Tuesday (24 June 2025), Secretary General Mark Rutte called on NATO Allies, partners and industry to “unite, innovate and deliver” to ensure the Alliance is able to “win this new war of production”.

Speaking at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in The Hague, Mr Rutte emphasised the significant steps the Alliance is taking to strengthen its defence industrial capacity, increase cooperation, enhance innovation, and expand hundreds of new and existing production lines.  “There’s no defence without a strong defence industry, and there’s no European security without a strong transatlantic bond,” Mr Rutte said.

Urging Allies and industry to do more, better and together, the Secretary General highlighted the clear demand signal NATO is sending to the defence industry, through the massive uplift Allies have agreed in capability targets.

Joined onstage by the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, Mr Rutte welcomed the European Union’s Readiness 2030 plan that promises to unleash up to 800 billion euros for defence, and encouraged the removal of barriers to transatlantic defence cooperation.

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine also made a speech at the event urging further security assistance and increased defence industrial cooperation between NATO Allies and Ukraine. Mr Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s growing defence industry and its world-leading drone production in particular, as an attractive basis for further collaboration.

The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum brought together defence ministers, industry leaders and experts from across the Alliance and beyond to identify practical solutions to strengthen transatlantic defence industrial cooperation, boost production capacity, support innovation, and harness the potential of the commercial space sector.

At the start of the event, business leaders from Europe and North America presented the Secretary General with an ambition statement, reflecting their collective commitment to support NATO’s Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge for the ‘prosperity, security and resilience of the Transatlantic economy and society’. NATO also released its first public version of the Updated Defence Production Action Plan, which outlines NATO’s commitment to aggregate demand, boost capacity and strengthen engagement with industry.

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Doorstep statement(0625)

by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the start of the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague 25 Jun. 2025 -

(As delivered)

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Good morning. I am very excited about today. I believe this will be a transformational summit, obviously very much concentrating on spending, making sure that NATO collectively has the money and the capabilities to indeed - given our long-term threat of Russia, but also the massive build-up of the military in China, and the fact that North Korea, China, Iran, are supporting the war effort in Ukraine - it's really important that we spend more so that will be number one on the agenda today. A new plan when it comes to spending over the coming years.

Of course, defence industrial production. We know that we are lacking a defence industrial base which is producing sufficiently. So we have fantastic companies, but we have to put in the extra production lines, they have to put in the extra shifts in making sure that we produce the ammunition and all the other, all the items we need.

And Ukraine will be big at the Summit today. Will be discussed making sure that Ukraine, over the coming years, will continue to count on the support of NATO countries to keep them in the fight, but also make sure that we can bring Ukraine to a durable and lasting peace. So a transformational Summit, looking forward to it, and of course, hope to see you later today. I can now take a few questions, and then at the end, we will see each other at a press conference, and I see that CNBC wants to start – sir.

CNBC – Thank you very much, CNBC as you note sir. Look, there’s a lot of questions about Spain, there's a lot of questions about nations that do not feel they have the money in their budget to get to two percent let alone three and a half percent, let alone 5 percent in total as well. Do you fear that Spain could scupper this meeting? And actually, sir, despite all your huge diplomatic efforts, incur the ire, the wrath of the United States?

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - No, I don't. I'm not worried about that. Of course, these are difficult decisions, let's be honest, I mean, politicians have to make choices in scarcity. And this is not easy, because seven, eight countries at the start of this year, not at 2% they will now reach the 2% this year. Many of those countries said, we will do it somewhere in the 2030s, they have now committed to do it this year. And already we added in an aggregate of a trillion since 2016, since Trump 45 started his first presidency. But today, this is the third stage. We will add trillions extra with this new plan. But of course, you're right, the countries have to find the money, it's not easy. These are political decisions; I totally recognise that. But at the same time, there is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that given the threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative. We've got to do this - really.

Reporter – Mr Rutte, why won’t Mr Trump back Article Five?

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - For me, there is absolute clarity that United States is totally committed to NATO, totally committed to Article Five. And yes, there is also an expectation which will be fulfilled today, that the Canadians and the Europeans will speed up their spending making sure that we, not only are able to defend ourselves against the Russians and others, but also to equalise - and this is fair - that we spend the same as the US is spending. Sir, yes.

[Question inaudible]

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - The big thing about Article Five, and the good thing about Article Five, is that it is clear that we defend each other when we are attacked, but you will always get all these questions you ask, but if this cyber-attack or this hybrid attack? We never go into those details.

Reporter – Secretary General, you had dinner with Donald Trump yesterday, in what mood was him? Was he? And do you think…

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte – Excellent mood. And the King and Queen were hosting a fantastic dinner in this, and I was so proud to sit in that Orange Hall [Oranjezaal], which is basically example - I'm a historian – so this is about the history of the Dutch Republic. 1648, the Munster Peace Deal and the King made a fantastic speech, you have seen it, I hope? I was also able to say a few words so I think it was a great dinner. (The Peace of Münster, signed on January 30, 1648, was a landmark treaty between Spain and the Dutch Republic that officially ended the Eighty Years' War—a long struggle for Dutch independence from Spanish rule. This treaty was part of the broader Peace of Westphalia, a series of agreements that also concluded the Thirty Years' War in Central Europe.)

[Questions and answers in Dutch]

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Listen, it's totally true. Would you really think that the seven or eight countries not at 2% at the beginning of this year would have reached the 2% if Trump would not have been elected President of the United States? Do we really think that, of course, there is a threat from the Russians, China, et cetera, et cetera, but that it would be doable to reach this commitment of 5% today? And I'm hopeful, and cautiously optimistic we will get there. If Trump would not have been elected president - so I think what I said in the text message to him - totally fine that he published it, please, but totally fine that he published it, I think it's a statement of fact.

Reporter - Are you okay with him sharing this message? Are you ok with him sharing those SMS? Isn't that a little embarrassing?

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Absolutely not, absolutely not. What is in that text message is a statement of fact, and I'm totally fine that he shared.

Reporter – The attacks on Iran appeared to be less positive, less successful than before. Do you reconsider your congratulations?

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - No, not at all. And the 14 huge bombs dropped on the nuclear facility of Iran, I think this was crucial to really do everything possible to take out the nuclear capability of the Iranians, which NATO has always said Iran should not get its hands on. And therefore, this decisive action by the United States was so important.

Reporter - Yesterday, you told Allies to stop worrying about the United States but how can the Allies stop worrying when Trump keeps relativising Article Five again and again?

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - I would think, look what the United States is doing, what Donald Trump is doing. They are spending almost a trillion on defence. They are by far the biggest contributor to NATO. They are delivering all the key enablers for NATO, also here in Europe. I mean, they are a important Ally. They are by far the biggest Ally in NATO. They are over 50% of the total NATO economy. But what we now will do over the coming years is to bring down, step by step, shift the burden away from the United States, more towards the Europeans and the Canadians, which I think is fair, and in the meantime, we will also equalise the spending. I think we now have to go because colleagues of mine, leaders of and presidents - I'm not a leader or President, I'm only a secretary general - but still, former colleagues of mine will enter this building and want to speak to you. But I thought the children were here? They are there? Yes, please. You ask the last question.

[Question inaudible]

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Am I excited? I'm excited, but to a level where I can still control it. Thank you.

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Opening remarks

by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Heads of State and Government 25 Jun. 2025

(As delivered)

So good morning. Good morning to you all, and welcome to this Leaders’ Session of the North Atlantic Council. We meet at a dangerous moment for our one billion citizens. 

Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on. An assertive grouping of adversaries seeks to divide and challenge us. There is war in the Middle East. Terrorism poses a persistent threat. And new technologies bring opportunities but also many serious security challenges.

In the face of this, we stand together, united in NATO. The most powerful defensive Alliance in world history. History has shown that North America and Europe working together is a winning combination. Our adversaries know this. Our enduring commitment to Article 5 – that an attack on one, is an attack on all – sends a powerful message. 

In this meeting, we will take historic, transformational decisions. To make our people safer through a stronger, fairer, and more lethal NATO. To make NATO stronger, we have a concrete plan for all Allies to spend 5% of GDP on defence. It will go towards core defence, as well as defence- and security-related investments. This decision is deeply rooted in our core mission, and is required to resource our plans and readiness. This will also make NATO fairer. To ensure anyone and everyone contributes their fair share for our security. 

For too long, one Ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden of that commitment. And that changes today. President Trump, dear Donald, you made this change possible. Your leadership on this has already produced one trillion dollars in extra spending from European Allies since 2016. And the decisions today will produce trillions more for our common defence, to make us stronger and fairer by equalising spending between America and America’s Allies. 

Allies will also agree to further increase defence production, so that our armed forces have everything they need. That means a huge expansion of our defence industrial base, on both sides of the Atlantic. That’s good for our security, it’s good for our economies, and good for our jobs. Our decisions include continuing our support to Ukraine, while also pushing for a just and lasting peace. We all want the bloodshed to stop. We call on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine. 

Let me now turn to Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, whose government and people are graciously hosting us here. Thank you to the media for joining us, we will continue our discussions in just a moment, but first and with the media here, please, Dick Schoof, your introductory remarks. 

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NATO Secretary General outlines expectations ahead of historic Summit

“We meet at a truly historic moment, with significant and growing challenges to our security” Mr Rutte stated. “As the world becomes more dangerous, Allied leaders will take bold decisions to strengthen our collective defence, making NATO a stronger, a fairer and a more lethal Alliance.”

This week, Allies will approve a major new defence investment plan, raising the benchmark for defence investment to 5% of GDP. This will be agreed together with a concerted effort to ramp up defence industry across NATO, increasing security and creating jobs. There will also be a continued focus on support for Ukraine alongside the pursuit of a just and lasting end to Russia’s war of aggression.

Mr Rutte made clear that the new defence investment plan will be “decisive” to ensuring effective deterrence. While the details of national capability targets are classified, the Secretary General called for a five-fold increase in air defence capabilities, thousands more tanks and armoured vehicles and millions of rounds of artillery ammunition to help keep NATO’s one billion citizens safe.

Speaking ahead of the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum on Tuesday 24, Mr Rutte urged Allies to work with industry to expand their defence industrial base warning that “there is not nearly enough supply to meet our increased demand on either side of the Atlantic”. “By investing more and producing more, we build a stronger NATO” he stressed.

Strengthening partnerships will remain a key focus for the Alliance, with the Summit providing the opportunity to engage with Ukraine, NATO partners in the Indo-Pacific, and the leadership of the European Union.

Finally, on Ukraine Mr Rutte was unambiguous, “we must continue to make sure Ukraine has what it needs to defend today and deter in the future. Our support for Ukraine is unwavering and will persist” he affirmed.