Mark Rutte Warns NATO 3.0 Means Europe Must Step Up Now

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke in Brussels ahead of the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence on 18 June 2026, the final ministerial gathering before the NATO Summit in Ankara in July.

Rutte said Allies must prepare for a more dangerous security environment by building “a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.” His message was clear: NATO needs more forces, more resources, stronger defence production and fairer burden-sharing.

He called on Allies to present clear, concrete and credible plans to reach the new target of 5% of GDP in defence investment by 2035, while stressing that European Allies and Canada had already increased core defence investment by more than 90 billion dollars in 2025.

Rutte also addressed the US adjustment of its contributions to the NATO Force Model, saying this should not be seen as America abandoning Europe, but as a shift toward fairer responsibility-sharing. Reuters reported that European Allies have stepped up pledges to fill gaps after US reductions in NATO crisis-force commitments.

On Ukraine, Rutte said continued support remains a priority, insisting that Ukraine is proving Russia’s war machine is not unstoppable. He also welcomed President Trump’s Iran deal and said restoring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be a major step forward for global security.

This was Rutte’s message before Ankara: NATO is changing, Europe must do more, and Ukraine must not be left alone.

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