Allies to Announce Billions in Defense Investment Plans at NATO Summit, Says Rutte

Mark Rutte said that while countries are committed to increasing their defense capabilities, industry must step up in terms of innovation and production.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte holds a press conference ahead of a defense ministers' meeting at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on June 17, 2026. Yves Herman/Reuters

NATO allies will reaffirm their commitment to the defense alliance and announce billions in defense spending during July’s summit in Turkey, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said.

“At Ankara, we are going to show the world that we are delivering on the commitments we made in The Hague last year,” the NATO chief said during a speech to the Atlantic Council on June 25, alluding to allies’ commitment to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035.