NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged the UK to remain at the forefront of defence spending, arguing that stronger military investment is essential for both national security and economic growth ahead of next week’s NATO Summit in Ankara.
Speaking to Sky News during his visit to London, Rutte said there was “a fierce urgency of now” given Russia’s military build-up and China’s expanding capabilities. While acknowledging the difficult budget choices governments face, he said “keeping your country safe is the first task”, adding that defence investment also has “a positive impact” on jobs and economic growth.
Rutte praised the UK’s longstanding commitment to NATO, saying Britain has “always been on the forefront” of the alliance and expressing confidence it would continue to play a leading role.
During his visit, Rutte held talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on increasing defence spending, expanding defence production and innovation, and maintaining long-term support for Ukraine.
He also thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s leadership on Ukraine and welcomed UK-France cooperation to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rutte’s visit comes ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, where allies are expected to focus on defence investment and collective security. It also coincides with the UK’s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, expected to be published before the summit after months of negotiations over funding.
The plan is set to prioritise drones, autonomous systems and military modernisation, following criticism that repeated delays have slowed procurement and created uncertainty for the UK’s defence industry.
ℹ️ Sky News
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