Nato chief: European Allies and Canada are already investing about 4% of their GDP in defence and security

Just one year into a 10-year project, European Allies and Canada are already investing around four per cent of their GDP in defence and security, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte told a news conference ahead of the July 7 – 8 2026 Nato Summit in Ankara.

This includes major increases to Allies’ investments in core defence as well as their defence and security-related investments, Rutte said.

He said that last year, European Allies and Canada spent nearly 20 per cent more on core defence than they had the year before.

“Looking at 2025 and 2026 combined, that’s $258 billion in extra investments. And the trend continues,” Rutte said.

He said that the summit in Ankara was coming one year after Nato leaders gathered for the summit in The Hague, where the Allies had made historic commitments.

“They agreed on the urgency of making our alliance stronger because of the dangerous world we face,” Rutte said.

“They committed to invest five of GDP in defence by 2035. And now, just one year later, we already see transformational progress. Here in Ankara, I expect nations to present clear, concrete and credible plans to reach that five per cent goal,” he said.

European Allies and Canada are now on a trajectory to equalise their defence spending with the United States, Rutte said.

“And not just that, they are taking on more leadership within Nato’s command and control structure, stepping up on conventional defence, on efforts to bolster our deterrence and defence, including along the entire eastern flank in the Baltic region and the Arctic, and spearheading support to Ukraine,” he said.

“All of this is evidence of a real shift in mindset. A stronger Europe in a stronger Nato.”

The investment is there, “and now we need to ensure that we are translating our economic might into military capabilities, putting the cash to work, from defence plans to drones, from money to missiles and interceptors,” Rutte said.

He said that this means ensuring innovation is front and centre, overcoming fragmented national defence industries and cutting red tape.

Rutte said that the Nato Summit Defence Industry Forum, being held on July 7, will be “the platform where we showcase how we are working with industry to deliver the capabilities that credible deterrence and defence demand”.

“We will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend. And then our industries, from Arkansas to Ankara, combine their strengths and step up supply.

The result is not only improved security, he said.

“This will help grow our economies, spread innovation, and support hundreds of thousands of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. So we are investing in our own security, ensuring we have what we need to safeguard our societies today and tomorrow. Because the threats we face are real, including from Russia, which continues to wage war on Ukraine.”

Rutte said that right now, Ukraine is changing the dynamics on the battlefield, “thanks to the bravery, the dedication and ingenuity of their armed forces”.

“But they need our continued support, especially when it comes to air defence. Russia continues drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, with another horrific attack just last night.”

So as Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty, Allies and Nato partners must continue to ensure Ukraine gets what it needs, Rutte said.

“And let me be clear, all Allies need to pull their weight, so that our support to Ukraine continues to flow. Because Ukraine’s security is so closely linked with our own.”

Rutte, asked about US president Trump’s critical statements towards Nato Allies, said that he had had “good visit last week with President Trump, and we discussed the staggering increase in defence spending by Europeans and Canadians”.

“And of course, this is because of Putin and Russia and Ukraine, but also because he, President Trump, has been extremely forceful, encouraging us to do this. And you could argue that he is the first president of the US since Eisenhower who was able to come to this situation where the Europeans and the Canadians will spend the same as the Americans,” he said.