Rutte: "NATO Benefits Greatly from Türkiye's Advanced Defense Industry"
"NATO benefits greatly from Türkiye's advanced defense industry. ASELSAN is one example of that," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Europe and Canada have significantly increased their defense spending ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, stressing that further investment is essential to strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence. He noted that defense spending by Europe and Canada had risen by 20 percent over the past year, adding that an additional $258 billion would be invested in 2025 and 2026 to build a stronger defense industrial base.
Rutte emphasized that Europe must convert its economic strength into military capability by investing in drones, missiles, air defense systems, and innovation while improving cooperation across the defense industry. He also highlighted that the NATO Defence Industry Forum would serve as a key platform for discussing new defense projects and major contracts.
Addressing the war in Ukraine, Rutte said Ukraine’s security is directly linked to NATO’s security and called for continued support, particularly in air defense. He added that the Ankara Summit would focus on implementing commitments made at the Hague Summit, strengthening burden-sharing, and enhancing defense industrial cooperation.
Rutte also stressed the importance of cooperation among NATO allies and partners, saying they represent two-thirds of the global economy. Commenting on defense spending, he acknowledged that U.S. President Donald Trump’s long-standing calls had encouraged European allies and Canada to increase their military budgets.
On Russia, Rutte condemned attacks on Ukrainian civilians, saying they demonstrated Moscow’s desperation and would not change the course of the war. He also criticized Russia’s provocative military actions against NATO members and reaffirmed the Alliance’s commitment to collective defense. Regarding China, he warned that NATO could not afford to be naïve, citing Beijing’s growing role alongside North Korea and Iran in shaping the current security environment.
Highlighting Türkiye’s role within NATO, Rutte described the country as one of the Alliance’s most important members, pointing to its large military, advanced defense industry, strategic location, and leadership. He said NATO benefits greatly from Türkiye’s advanced defense industry, citing ASELSAN as a leading example and calling for deeper defense industrial cooperation across the Alliance. Rutte concluded by saying NATO’s sole objective remains protecting all Allied territory against threats from Russia, terrorism, and other security challenges.
