NATO promises record defense contracts and sends a direct warning to Vladimir Putin

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that member states of the Alliance would unveil defense contracts worth tens of billions of dollars at the summit scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara. He stated that these announcements would demonstrate the Allies' commitment to strengthening their military capabilities in the face of growing threats.

While in Washington ahead of the summit, Mark Rutte stated that the meeting would send a clear message to the Russian president. Vladimir PutinHe stated that the Alliance was ready to respond to any "reckless maneuver" directed against its members, adding that the Russian leader did not fear NATO commitments, but their effective implementation.

The Alliance chief also stressed that member countries were now on track to achieve the goal adopted last year of increasing their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2035. This goal is intended to make up for years of underinvestment in the Allies' military capabilities.

Mark Rutte, however, believed that efforts were still needed to increase defense industry production on both sides of the Atlantic, reduce the fragmentation of European arms industries, simplify administrative procedures in the United States, and further promote innovation in the sector.

He believes the contracts announced at the summit will not only strengthen collective security but also stimulate the economy. He spoke of a veritable "defense industrial revolution" capable of supporting economic growth and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The Ankara summit will also be marked by the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. NATO leaders are expected to reaffirm their support for Ukraine in its war against Russian forces, a conflict that has lasted for more than four years. For Mark Rutte, Ukraine's security and that of the Alliance are closely linked, and the country has demonstrated that it is possible to resist Russian aggression.