Brussels: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the alliance is entering an implementation phase ahead of the upcoming summit in Ankara, emphasizing increased defense spending, expanded military production, and ongoing support for Ukraine. He made these remarks during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, noting that this gathering is the last major ministerial meeting before the Ankara summit.

According to Anadolu Agency, Rutte emphasized that the Ankara summit will focus on implementation, marking a significant step in what he described as "NATO 3.0," which envisions a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO. He highlighted the substantial increase in military spending, with Europe and Canada expected to spend over $90 billion more on defense by 2025 compared to last year, a nearly 20% increase. This increase is part of efforts to meet NATO capability targets and move toward the alliance's agreed defense spending benchmark.

Rutte further stressed the importance of expanding defense production in both the US and Europe to maintain safety, as competitors like China and Russia are ramping up their defense industrial output. He welcomed efforts by the United States and European allies to strengthen their defense industrial bases.

Support for Ukraine remains a central topic at both the Brussels meeting and the upcoming Ankara summit. Rutte emphasized the necessity of keeping Ukraine strong in its ongoing fight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to participate in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting later that day. Rutte discussed recent battlefield developments and Ukraine's military needs, particularly air defense systems and critical infrastructure protection, during a meeting with Zelenskyy.

Addressing concerns about Washington's decision to reduce part of its contribution to NATO's force model, Rutte clarified that it pertains to a planning mechanism and not the alliance's crisis response capability. He noted that European allies are compensating for the capability gap, asserting that the alliance is "really in a good place." Rutte dismissed suggestions of the US stepping back from NATO, praising US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's calls for greater burden-sharing within the alliance.

Rutte also expressed approval of the recent US-Iran agreement, viewing it as a step toward reducing security risks. He highlighted President Trump's role in the agreement, which he argued helped degrade Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. Additionally, Rutte underscored the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with G7 countries discussing ways to support maritime security in the area. He noted that while the issue is not directly a NATO mission, the alliance would be willing to assist if requested.