After a visit by the German Cabinet to the Federal Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that Germany is well on track to commit 3.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product to defence by 2029. Rutte commended Germany for its “political courage and determination” in implementing this significant increase in defence spending. He noted that such expenditure increases require difficult decisions, but stressed that they are necessary given the increasingly dangerous world they face. He added that in the summer of next year, the focus will shift to converting these additional funds into deployable capabilities and substantially expanding its defence industry.
Furthermore, Rutte expressed confidence in Germany’s ability to considerably grow its defence industry and accelerate production. The NATO Secretary-General emphasized that allies are urging the industry to open up production lines, broaden supply chains, and ensure rapid delivery to meet security requirements.
Rutte also highlighted the substantial contributions Germany is already making to collective security. For instance, the first German-Dutch Corps is acting as a technical headquarters on the eastern flank of NATO. Additionally, he described the German Navy as indispensable for protecting critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Looking toward the future, Rutte underlined the persistent necessity of maintaining pressure on Russia. He warned that even if the war in Ukraine were to end, Russia would remain a long-term threat to the Euro-Atlantic security.
