NATO chief calls for faster defense production at Ankara forum

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on allies and defense companies Tuesday to accelerate production and industrial cooperation, saying the alliance must turn higher military spending into concrete capabilities.

Speaking at the NATO Defense Industry Forum held on the sidelines of the alliance's summit in Ankara, Rutte said governments, armed forces and the industry should work together to ensure NATO remains prepared for an increasingly complex security environment.

Using a football analogy, Rutte said successful teams depend not only on star players but also on the wider support structure, comparing that teamwork to NATO's relationship with governments, militaries and the defense industry.

He said the allies had already begun translating commitments made at last year's summit into higher defense spending and expanded industrial production.

According to Rutte, European allies and Canada increased defense spending by nearly 20% last year, representing an additional $139 billion, while combined increases for 2025 and 2026 are expected to reach $258 billion.

"The money is there, and much more is coming," he said.

Rutte said governments and industry invested $37 billion over the past year to strengthen the alliance's defense industrial base, expanding factories, production lines and manufacturing capacity.

He also announced that new defense contracts worth tens of billions of dollars had been signed during the forum, covering air defense systems, strike capabilities, satellite communications, ammunition, drones and counter-drone systems.

The alliance is expected to have the capacity to produce around 4 million artillery shells annually by next year, nearly doubling current output, he said.

Warning that NATO cannot afford delays, Rutte cited Russia's military buildup, China's expanding armed forces and nuclear capabilities, North Korea's continued weapons development and its military support for Russia, as well as broader cooperation among those countries.

He also said recent US military action had significantly degraded Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs but stressed that the alliance must remain vigilant.

Rutte urged governments to simplify procurement rules, invest in long-term production capacity and strengthen energy supplies, skilled workforces and secure supply chains while encouraging defense companies to increase investment to meet growing demand.

For the first time, NATO is also publicly releasing a consolidated demand signal outlining the alliance's capability requirements to help industry align production with military needs, he added.

ENSURING ALLIES EXPAND DEFENSE INVESTMENT

Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler said the current security environment showed that a strong defense industry is essential to protecting national sovereignty and strengthening NATO's collective deterrence.

He said the war in Ukraine highlighted the need for more ammunition, drones, air and missile defenses, and military innovation.

He added that recent developments around the Strait of Hormuz underscored the importance of secure supply chains and transport routes.

"The fundamental question for all of us is: How quickly can we turn our commitments into real capabilities?" Güler said.

He said one of the main objectives of the Ankara summit was to ensure allies expand defense investment, meet new capability targets and build a stronger, more innovative and resilient transatlantic defense industrial base.

Highlighting Türkiye's defense industry, Güler said the country has significantly expanded domestic production and engineering capabilities across land, naval and air platforms, drones, electronic warfare and air defense technologies.

He pointed to simultaneous construction of dozens of military vessels in Turkish shipyards, the serial production of the Altay main battle tank, development of the Kaan fifth-generation fighter aircraft and increased 155 mm ammunition production.

Güler also highlighted new missile and munitions investments by Rokestsan and advanced technologies developed by Aselsan and Havelsan, including radar, communications, command-and-control systems, software, simulation and artificial intelligence-supported capabilities.

He said NATO's commitment to invest 5% of GDP in defense represented a concrete demonstration of the alliance's determination to strengthen deterrence, expand defense production and deliver military capabilities more rapidly.

NATO 3.0

Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said the Ankara summit marked the beginning of what he described as "NATO 3.0," with a greater emphasis on burden-sharing and stronger European contributions within the alliance.

He said the next challenge for NATO would be ensuring higher defense spending translates into industrial capacity and operational capability.

Yılmaz said Türkiye had become the world's 11th-largest defense exporter and was expected to enter the global top 10 in the near future.

He added that defense and aerospace exports exceeded $11 billion over the past year, with more than half destined for NATO allies and European Union countries.

Yılmaz also called for the removal of restrictions affecting defense trade and industrial cooperation among allies, arguing that such barriers weaken NATO's military readiness and collective security.

He said Türkiye sought deeper cooperation with allies not only through exports but also through joint production, design and development projects, adding that stronger transatlantic security depended on integrating production capacity, technological expertise and operational experience across the alliance.