NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Western allies are not producing enough weapons, urging faster defense manufacturing across Europe and North America.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for a major increase in arms production and the replenishment of ammunition stockpiles across Europe and North America, warning that the alliance must strengthen its military readiness amid growing security challenges.
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Rutte said U.S. President Donald Trump is encouraging NATO members to increase defense spending and expand cooperation with defense manufacturers to boost military production capacity.
According to Rutte, rebuilding weapons inventories on both sides of the Atlantic has become a strategic priority. He said closer cooperation between governments and defense industries is necessary to ensure NATO can respond to future security threats.
The NATO chief added that Trump is expected to engage with major U.S. defense companies as part of broader efforts to accelerate military procurement and production.
The remarks come as NATO members continue to reassess their defense capabilities following Russia’s war against Ukraine. European governments have increasingly warned that Russia poses the most significant long-term security threat to the continent, prompting calls for larger military budgets and stronger deterrence measures.
NATO leaders have repeatedly argued that years of underinvestment left many member states with insufficient ammunition reserves and limited production capacity. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, alliance countries have sought to expand defense manufacturing to sustain military assistance while rebuilding their own stockpiles.
The comments also follow recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including U.S.-Iran negotiations aimed at reducing regional instability. Although Washington and Tehran recently reached a preliminary framework to continue talks after meetings in Switzerland, Western governments remain concerned about broader security risks and the impact of regional conflicts on global stability.