NATO chief urges allies to turn spending into capabilities
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged allies to turn higher defense spending into concrete military capabilities as leaders prepare to gather in Ankara for the alliance’s 2026 summit.
“Allies must translate economic means into military capabilities,” Rutte said at a pre-summit news conference on Monday, calling for more investment in missiles, interceptors and defense production.
Rutte thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his team for hosting allied leaders, describing the summit venue as “fantastic.”
He also said Türkiye remained important to NATO’s future security strategy, pointing to its geography and role within the alliance.
