NATO Chief Declares 'New War of Production' as Alliance Unveils Massive Defense Industry Overhaul
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on Tuesday for allies and defense industry partners to "unite, innovate and deliver" to ensure the Alliance can "win this new war of production," announcing a sweeping transformation of the organization's defense manufacturing capabilities during a high-profile summit in the Dutch capital.
Speaking at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum, Rutte emphasized the Alliance is taking "significant steps" to strengthen defense industrial capacity, increase cooperation, enhance innovation and expand "hundreds of new and existing production lines" across member nations.
"There's no defence without a strong defence industry, and there's no European security without a strong transatlantic bond," Rutte said during his address to defense ministers, industry leaders and experts from across the Alliance.
The secretary general's remarks came as the European Union announced its Readiness 2030 plan, which European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said would "unleash up to 800 billion euros for defence." Von der Leyen joined Rutte onstage during the forum proceedings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also addressed the gathering, urging continued security assistance and increased defense industrial cooperation between NATO allies and Ukraine. Zelenskyy highlighted his country's "growing defence industry and its world-leading drone production in particular" as what he called "an attractive basis for further collaboration."
The forum brought together officials and industry representatives "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," according to NATO.
Rutte's call for greater defense production comes as NATO faces mounting pressure to increase manufacturing capacity amid global security challenges. The secretary general urged allies and industry partners to "do more, better and together," highlighting what he described as a "clear demand signal" NATO is sending to the defense industry.
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The demand signal comes through "the massive uplift Allies have agreed in capability targets," Rutte said, though he did not specify exact figures or timelines for the production increases.
Business leaders from Europe and North America presented Rutte with what NATO described as an "ambition statement" at the start of the event. The statement reflects their "collective commitment to support NATO's Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge for the 'prosperity, security and resilience of the Transatlantic economy and society,'" according to the Alliance.
NATO also released its first public version of the Updated Defence Production Action Plan during the forum. The document outlines NATO's commitment to "aggregate demand, boost capacity and strengthen engagement with industry," though specific details of production targets and timelines were not immediately available.
Von der Leyen's presence underscored growing cooperation between NATO and the European Union on defense matters. The EU commission president encouraged "the removal of barriers to transatlantic defence cooperation" during her remarks alongside Rutte.
The 800 billion euro figure for EU defense spending represents a substantial increase in European military investment, though Von der Leyen did not provide a specific timeline for when the funds would be deployed or how they would be distributed among member nations.
Zelenskyy's participation highlighted Ukraine's evolving role from aid recipient to potential defense industry partner. The Ukrainian president emphasized his country's rapid development of military technology, particularly in unmanned aerial systems.
"Ukraine's growing defence industry and its world-leading drone production in particular" offers "an attractive basis for further collaboration" with NATO allies, Zelenskyy said during his address to the forum.
The Ukrainian leader called for "further security assistance and increased defence industrial cooperation between NATO Allies and Ukraine," positioning his country as both a beneficiary and contributor to Alliance defense capabilities.
The forum's focus on industry cooperation reflects NATO's recognition that modern defense challenges require unprecedented coordination between government and private sector actors. Defense ministers, industry leaders and experts participated in discussions aimed at identifying "practical solutions" to enhance production and innovation.
NATO's emphasis on expanding "hundreds of new and existing production lines" suggests a comprehensive approach to increasing manufacturing capacity across multiple weapons systems and defense technologies. However, officials did not provide specifics about which production lines would be prioritized or expanded.
The Alliance's Updated Defence Production Action Plan, released publicly for the first time during the forum, represents NATO's formal strategy for coordinating increased defense manufacturing. The plan focuses on three key areas: aggregating demand across member nations, boosting production capacity, and strengthening engagement between military planners and industry partners.
Rutte's characterization of current global tensions as a "new war of production" reflects NATO's assessment that manufacturing capacity has become a critical factor in military preparedness. The secretary general's language suggests the Alliance views defense production as both a deterrent and a competitive advantage in current geopolitical circumstances.
The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum represents one of the Alliance's most significant gatherings of defense industry stakeholders. Participants included representatives from major defense contractors, emerging technology companies, and government agencies responsible for defense procurement and industrial policy.
Von der Leyen's participation signals growing EU-NATO coordination on defense industrial matters. Her presence alongside Rutte demonstrates what officials describe as strengthening transatlantic cooperation on security issues.
The forum's commercial space sector component reflects NATO's recognition that modern defense increasingly relies on civilian technologies and dual-use capabilities. Officials emphasized the need to "harness the potential of the commercial space sector" as part of broader defense industrial expansion efforts.
NATO's Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge, referenced in the business leaders' ambition statement, represents a formal commitment by member nations to coordinate defense production increases. The pledge aims to ensure "prosperity, security and resilience of the Transatlantic economy and society," according to Alliance documents.
The timing of Tuesday's forum reflects growing urgency within NATO about defense production capabilities. Alliance officials have increasingly emphasized the need for member nations to strengthen their defense industrial base as global security challenges evolve.
Rutte's call to "unite, innovate and deliver" encapsulates NATO's three-pronged approach to defense industrial expansion: increased cooperation among allies, technological innovation, and concrete production increases. The secretary general presented these elements as essential for the Alliance to "win this new war of production."
The forum concluded with commitments from industry and government participants to continue coordination on defense production expansion, though specific next steps and timelines were not immediately announced.
NATO officials indicated that follow-up meetings and working groups would be established to implement the initiatives discussed during Tuesday's gathering in The Hague.
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