Defence Ministers from NATO nations concluded their meeting in Brussels today (13 February 2025), setting the stage for the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague in June. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed his shock and sadness at what appears to have been a deliberate attack in Munich, where many people were injured.
Mr Rutte also expressed his pleasure in welcoming the new US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to his first NATO meeting. "Secretary Hegseth came with a clear message. Of America's enduring commitment to a strong NATO Alliance. And of America's clear expectations for all Allies to carry their fair share of the burden."
Ministers discussed progress bolstering NATO's deterrence and defence and the robust defence plans to which all Allies have agreed. " To ensure we are fully ready to execute these plans we need more military capabilities, and for that we need significantly more defence spending," Mr Rutte emphasized. "It is clear from our discussions today that Allies recognise the need to invest much more," he added.
He noted that since 2014, European Allies and Canada have added more than 700 billion US dollars to defence budgets. In 2024 alone, investment by non-US Allies reached 485 billion US dollars, marking a 20% increase from the previous year, with two-thirds of Allies now spending at least 2% of GDP on defence. The Secretary General anticipates further increases in 2025, acknowledging the progress made but highlighting the need for continued effort.
Defence ministers also discussed enhancing the defence industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic, recognising the need for a wartime mindset to ensure credible deterrence and defence in the face of growing security challenges.
In the NATO-Ukraine Council session with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, Allies discussed the importance of continued support to Ukraine, "which is crucial so that this brutal war of aggression can come to a just and lasting end.". While NATO pledged 40 billion euros for Ukraine in 2024 at the Washington Summit, the actual security assistance provided surpassed expectations, reaching over 50 billion euros, with nearly 60% of that provided by Europe and Canada.
"All of this sends a clear signal that Europe and Canada are taking on a greater proportion of the transatlantic burden-sharing," Mr Rutte concluded.
