FRANKFURT – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged European nations to boost defense budgets and accelerate military production to enhance the continent’s security, warning that past complacency has left Europe vulnerable.
“We must invest more in our own safety,” Rutte told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in an interview published Sunday. “But beyond that, we need to rapidly scale up defense production on both sides of the Atlantic. For too long, our output has been insufficient.”
NATO, which comprises European nations as well as the United States and Canada, is facing heightened pressure to strengthen its military capabilities following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine. The move has raised concerns over Washington’s long-term commitment to European security.
Rutte emphasized the need for a broad range of military assets, including ammunition, naval vessels, tanks, fighter jets, satellites, and drones.
In response to these concerns, European countries are fast-tracking defense spending measures. In Germany, lawmakers are preparing to debate key reforms, including adjustments to state borrowing limits to fund defense initiatives and a proposed €500 billion (US$541.6 billion) infrastructure fund. The discussions, set to begin on March 13, aim to pass critical measures before a new parliament is formed on March 25.
Meanwhile, European Union leaders have convened to explore joint defense loans for member states and loosen strict budgetary constraints on military spending.
Rutte, who has met with leading defense manufacturers, called on the industry to rise to the challenge of increased demand. “It’s time to shift gears and meet the growing security needs of our alliance,” he said.