LIVE: Press Briefing by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte

NATO's Enduring Mission and Anniversary

• 💡 NATO celebrated its 76th anniversary, emphasizing security delivered through strength and unity among its 32 allies.
• 🎯 The alliance's primary focus remains on keeping NATO territory safe, identifying Russia as the long-term threat that necessitates continued vigilance and defense readiness.
• 🔑 The transatlantic relationship is reaffirmed as the cornerstone of European security and global stability, with a call to strengthen NATO-EU cooperation.

Support for Ukraine and Peace Efforts

• 🚀 NATO provides substantial political and practical support for Ukraine, including over 20 billion euros in security assistance pledged for the first three months of 2025.
• 🛠️ Efforts are underway to help build up Ukrainian forces and develop their defense industrial base, with initiatives from various allies and a new center in Poland to capture lessons learned.
• ✅ The path for Ukraine's NATO membership is irreversible, though it is clarified that membership is not promised as part of a potential peace deal with Russia.

Global Security Challenges and Partnerships

• ⚠️ China is increasingly seen as a threat due to its military buildup, naval power, and support for Russia's war effort through sanction circumvention and dual-use goods.
• 🤝 NATO is deepening partnerships with Indo-Pacific nations like Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, focusing on defense industrial cooperation and sharing insights from the battlefield.
• 🧊 Concerns were raised about Arctic security, noting China's presence and Russia's rearming of the region, prompting cooperation among the seven Arctic NATO members.

Defense Spending and Alliance Cohesion

• 📈 Allies are significantly increasing defense spending, with hundreds of billions of euros/dollars being invested, marking the biggest increase since the Cold War.
• 📊 NATO maintains a clear definition of defense spending, which does not include issues like climate change or border controls, separating it from broader national political choices.
• 🛡️ Reassurance was given to Eastern flank members regarding the US commitment to NATO, emphasizing that concerns about the US leaving the alliance are unfounded.