Rutte: Ankara NATO summit must be about ‘delivery and implementation’

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on allies to use next week’s Ankara summit to translate promises into action, urging concrete progress on defence spending, industrial output, and support for Ukraine. In an interview with Anadolu, Rutte said the July 7‑8 gathering should be a “summit of delivery and implementation,” building on commitments made at last year’s Hague summit.

Defence production and Türkiye’s role

Rutte stressed the urgent need to accelerate defence industrial production across the alliance, warning that production timelines remain too long. “NATO 3.0 is different from NATO 2.0, where we were overly dependent on the US,” he said, adding that the future would see a stronger European-led NATO. He highlighted Türkiye’s expanding defence industrial base, noting that the country has become a major hub with around 3,000 defence companies. “Türkiye is extremely important to NATO,” he said, praising its well‑equipped and well‑trained military.

Long‑term threats and transatlantic unity

Rutte identified Russia as NATO’s primary long‑term security challenge, while also pointing to growing cooperation between Moscow, China, Iran, and North Korea. He said Europe’s security must remain broad and transatlantic, stretching “from California up to and including Ankara.” On nuclear deterrence, he said NATO’s existing framework, including US and UK capabilities and France’s independent force, provides strong protection for allies. The Ankara summit will also feature a defence industry forum on its opening day, reflecting the alliance’s focus on ramping up production.