Warsaw, 26 March 2025
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Warsaw on Wednesday (26 March 2025), where he met Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. The Secretary General then gave a speech at a public event co-hosted by the Warsaw School of Economics and the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
Secretary General Rutte praised Poland for its leadership within the Alliance, including its strong support to Ukraine and record-high defence spending, set to reach 4.7% of GDP this year. “Poland’s investment in defence is an example to all Allies. Not only do you top the NATO charts, you plan to spend even more,” he said.
In his keynote speech, the Secretary General underlined the strength of the transatlantic bond and laid out NATO’s path to the upcoming Summit in The Hague.
“When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to NATO,” he said, stressing that it is not possible to imagine the defence of Europe without the Alliance.
As Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on and its military cooperation with China, Iran, and North Korea intensifies, Mr Rutte warned that President Putin “has not given up on his ambition to reshape the global security order.” He underlined that a strong transatlantic Alliance remains the foundation of European security and that stronger European Allies are a unique strategic asset to the United States – allowing America, he said, to “promote peace through strength on the global stage.”
Secretary General Rutte reiterated his confidence in the United States’ continued commitment to NATO and Article 5. “Listen to President Trump, who has repeatedly stated his commitment to a strong NATO. Listen to the strong bipartisan support in the US Congress,” he said. “And listen to the American people,” three-quarters of whom support NATO according to a recent Gallup poll.
Mr Rutte also emphasised that the US commitment to NATO comes with a clear expectation: that European Allies and Canada take on greater responsibility for our shared security.
Looking ahead to the NATO Summit in The Hague, the Secretary General said the Alliance would “begin a new chapter for our transatlantic Alliance. Where we build a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO, to face a more dangerous world.”
Source – NATO
Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk
Warsaw, 26 March 2025
(As delivered)
Prime Minister, dear Donald.
Thank you for the warm welcome here in Warsaw, and it is a pleasure to be back in Poland. Poland has been a vital and much valued Ally for 26 years, and you continue to lead by example. With 4.7% of GDP pledged for defence this year, Poland’s defence expenditure is the highest now among NATO Allies.
In an increasingly dangerous world, boosting defence spending is essential. Let’s not forget that Russia is remaining, the most significant and direct threat to our Alliance. Let’s not forget that Russia is moving into a wartime economy, and that will have a huge impact on their capacity and capability to build their armed forces.
You are strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, hosting one of our Forward Land Forces, and contributing to NATO’s multinational presence in Latvia, and in Romania. And from the first of April, you will be supporting the Baltic Air Policing mission with F-16 fighter jets.
And Prime Minister, let me be absolutely clear, dear Donald. When it comes to the defence of Poland and the general defence of NATO territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other Ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce Alliance. Our reaction will be devastating. This has to be very clear to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and anyone else who wants to attack us.
You are also increasing military training in Poland and further strengthening your borders. And I want to tell you that the Prime Minister briefed me on your initiative, East Shield / Shield East, and I welcome this important investment in Poland’s security and therefore in Europe’s and transatlantic security. I think it is important. And I know you are working closely with the European Union on this.
At sea, in the air and on land, Poland is a vital contributor to NATO’s collective defence. And I want to thank you for participating, and you mentioned it, in Baltic Sentry, when on Christmas Day, 25th of December, we had a cutting of the sea cable between Estonia and Finland, we had collectively to get into action. And we had a summit in Helsinki, in January, we both participated there. And I think it was important that NATO was able, in only 10 days, to put up reaction to what is happening there in the Baltic Sea, in the East Sea, whatever we call it, depending on the country you’re coming from. But we all know what is happening there, and we have to defend ourselves against that.
Poland’s investment in defence is therefore an example to all Allies. Not only do you top the NATO charts. You plan to spend even more. And again, thank you for that. And I know this is not easy, because at the end, there are many conflicting national priorities when it comes to spending public money.
On defence investment across the Alliance, we have seen movement now in the right direction. Last year, defence investment rose by 20% for Europe and Canada.
But as President Trump has said, and I agree with him, European Allies and Canada need to do more. We should all follow, therefore, the Polish example and rapidly ramp up our spending and capabilities and match words with action, by investing more in security, our industry and in our deterrence.
I welcome your recent discussions with United Kingdom and other European Allies on efforts to help defence production and to ramp it up, because we need to do more. By the way, this is an issue across the whole Alliance, including the United States.
And since assuming the Presidency of the Council of European Union for this half year, Poland has shown real leadership in shaping Europe’s defence and security agenda.
These are uncertain times, but let me be clear on one thing, the transatlantic partnership remains the bedrock of our Alliance, and this will not change. I will come back to this issue this afternoon, indeed, in a speech here in Warsaw.
The US has repeatedly made clear its commitment to a strong NATO, and President Trump reiterated this when we met at the White House earlier this month. But he also made clear that Europe must step up, and Poland is doing exactly that.
So again, Prime Minister, dear Donald, thank you once again for your strong leadership, your steadfast commitment to our Alliance, and again, your personal friendship, and your warm welcome here today.
Source – NATO
Speech by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte followed by moderated discussion at the Warsaw School of Economics
Warsaw, 26 March 2025
(As delivered)
Professor, Rector Magnificus,
Professor, good to see you again.
In my first speech as Secretary General in December, I said I wanted to start a conversation with the one billion people living in NATO countries about our security.
And what better place to continue that conversation than here in Poland?
You are truly a leader on defence, spending 4.7 percent of GDP this year. You are a strong supporter for Ukraine. And Poland has put security at the heart of your EU Presidency.
In my meetings earlier today, I thanked President Duda and Prime Minister Tusk. Not just for talking the talk, but for walking the walk, when it comes to our collective security.
Now, I want to take some time with all of you. To address the questions about the strength of the transatlantic bond. And to sketch out the path to our NATO Summit in The Hague in June, following my recent discussions in Washington with President Trump.
I know that things have been moving fast in recent months. And many of us feel less secure in this rapidly changing world.
Russia’s war against Ukraine is raging on. And there are concerns about how it will end.
However it ends, Russia will remain the most significant and direct threat to our security. Russia is ramping up its defence spending and has moved to a war economy. It is rapidly rebuilding its armed forces. Built on Chinese technology. Backed by deadly Iranian drones. And North Korean troops and missiles.
Putin has not given up his ambition to reshape the global security order. And he is not alone. China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are increasing their military cooperation and exercises.
Beijing is carrying out its own massive military build-up. Including of its nuclear forces, with no limits or transparency.
What’s happening in Europe matters for the Indo-Pacific. And vice-versa. Securing lasting peace for Ukraine is essential for European security. And for global stability. The world is watching.
I welcome that President Trump has broken the deadlock with Russia. And that talks are ongoing towards a ceasefire. I also welcome that the UK and France are leading efforts to contribute to a lasting peace, which we will again discuss tomorrow in Paris.
At the same time, I know there are questions about the strength of the transatlantic bond and United States’ commitment to European security. There is tough rhetoric. There are difficult debates between Europe and America over trade and tariffs. And there are calls to revive ideas of European autonomy.
Let me be absolutely clear, this is not the time to go it alone. Not for Europe or North America. The global security challenges are too great for any of us to face on our own.
When it comes to keeping Europe and North America safe, there is no alternative to NATO. Without the US, UK, Türkiye, Canada, Norway and Iceland, it is impossible to imagine the defence of Europe. And nothing can replace America’s nuclear umbrella, the ultimate guarantor of our security.
A strong transatlantic Alliance remains the bedrock of our defence. And stronger European Allies are a unique strategic asset. Which allows the US to promote peace through strength on the global stage.
When it comes to security and defence, I am absolutely confident that the United States remains committed to NATO and to Article 5.
Don’t just take my word for it. Listen to President Trump who has repeatedly stated his commitment to a strong NATO. Listen to the strong bipartisan support in the US Congress. And listen to the American people, three-quarters of whom support NATO according to a recent poll.
I heard this again, loud and clear, in meetings in the White House with the President and on Capitol Hill two weeks ago.
And it’s not only about words, but also about actions. US troops lead our NATO forces here in Poland. American strategic bombers patrol European skies. And US aircraft carriers send a message of strength at sea.
Yes, Europe needs to know that Uncle Sam still has our back. But America also needs to know that its NATO Allies will step up and play their full part. Without restrictions and without capability gaps. It’s only fair. Reassurance is a two-way street.
The US commitment to NATO comes with a clear expectation. That European Allies and Canada take more responsibility for our shared security.
So at our Summit in The Hague. We will begin a new chapter for our transatlantic Alliance. Where we will build a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO. To face a more dangerous world.
A stronger NATO means investing and producing even more for our defence. A fairer NATO means all Allies doing their fair share. And a more lethal NATO means that, while we will always remain a defensive Alliance, we will always be ready and able to do whatever it takes to stay safe.
When it comes to spending more, European Allies and Canada have stepped up with huge new investments. Last year alone, they increased defence spending by 20 percent. And over the last decade, they added an extra 700 billion for defence.
Many have pledged to go further and faster.
Poland is leading the way, alongside Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, moving to spending five percent of GDP in the coming years. The German parliament has unlocked more than a trillion in extra defence and infrastructure spending. Czechia, Denmark, Sweden, France, Finland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, have committed to considerably ramp up spending. And the European Union only last week came out with an initiative to free up to 800 billion for defence.
All this is nothing short of a sea change for NATO’s collective defence. This acceleration is absolutely necessary. And we have to keep our foot on the gas.
When it comes to producing more there are also great examples. Europe and North America are now producing millions of rounds of 155-milimetre shells. New gunpowder and TNT factories are being built across the Alliance, from France to Finland. And there are more fifth generation fighters flying in Alliance skies than ever before.
We are also producing more together. Take the F-35, which combines American ingenuity with British knowhow, Italian finesse, and Dutch technical expertise.
European companies are supporting ammunition production, from Texas to Florida. And the US and Europe are building a new Patriot missile factory in Bavaria, in Germany.
This is the kind of industrial win-win we need more of, not less of. This is how we rebuild our industry, together. And this is how we create jobs and growth, on both sides of the Atlantic.
There are so many opportunities to boost our transatlantic defence industry even more. There are hundreds of billions of extra euros and dollars to go around.
But we must go much further and faster to ramp up production across the Alliance. The need and the urgency are crystal clear.
Finally, European Allies and Canada are also doing more for our shared security through NATO.
They lead seven of our eight multinational deployments on our eastern flank. An Italian Commander leads NATO’s peace-keeping mission in Kosovo. A Dutch Commander leads our training and advisory mission in Iraq. And European Allies lead on NATO air policing over Iceland, the Western Balkans, and the Baltics.
When undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea was threatened this winter, European Allies stood up in record time through NATO’s Baltic Sentry. Without the need for a single US ship.
European Allies and Canada are also playing a bigger role in Ukraine. Last year, they provided almost 60 percent of NATO’s military aid to Ukraine.
NATO’s command in Germany is now coordinating security assistance and training for Ukraine. With logistics hubs, including here in Poland. And Poland also hosts NATO’s Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre. A joint initiative with Ukraine to capture important lessons and innovations from this terrible war.
Over the last decade, NATO has carried out a generational transformation of our Alliance.
We have significantly increased our presence on our eastern flank. Invested in new capabilities and military infrastructure. And revitalised our defence industry. Backed by large-scale exercises to demonstrate our commitment to each other’s defence.
At our Summit in The Hague, we will need to do even more to ensure all Allies do their fair share. Based on ambitious new targets for all NATO Allies. Strengthening our capabilities, readiness and deterrence. Including air and missile defence, long-range missiles, and more ground forces.
This will enable Europeans to take on a greater share of our collective defence, while maintaining strong American commitment and presence in Europe.
So we know what we need to do to stay safe today. And strong tomorrow.
We know exactly what forces, resources, and capabilities every Ally needs to provide. And we have the plans and procedures in place to defend our own nations and support Ukraine. NATO Allies represent half of the world’s economic and military might. Two continents, 32 nations, and one billion people.
Together in NATO, Europe and North America are unbeatable. Today and in the future.
So to our one billion people I say this. Be assured. The transatlantic bond is strong.
And, yes, we will make NATO a stronger, fairer, and more lethal Alliance.
That is how we all stay safe in a more dangerous world.
So, thank you and I look forward to our discussion.
Source – NATO