NATO Secretary General Urgently Gathers European Arms Manufacturers

• 16.05.2026, 14:10

The Financial Times revealed the details.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte plans to step up pressure on Europe's leading defense companies next week, urging them to urgently increase investment and expand arms production, writes Financial Times.

The meeting is to be held in Brussels with the heads of Europe's key defense concerns. According to sources, the alliance is seeking to accelerate capacity building ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara in July.

The companies have been asked in advance to provide information on investment plans and opportunities to increase production, especially in the areas of air defense and long-range missiles. Representatives from giants such as Rheinmetall, Airbus, Saab, Leonardo and others are expected to attend.

Sources said such a large-scale meeting with defense industry representatives is atypical for NATO but demonstrates the urgency of the situation.

US pressure and the issue of Europe's dependence

Separately, the Alliance said the production increase should also help meet US President Donald Trump's demands for increased defense spending and reduce Europe's dependence on US supplies.

After agreements at the previous NATO summit in The Hague, allies agreed to gradually raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, and the upcoming meeting in Ankara is expected to cement those decisions through specific agreements with arms manufacturers.

European governments and defense companies have argued in recent years over the reasons for the slow ramp-up, with governments blaming industry for the lack of speed, while companies claiming a shortage of long-term contracts.

Despite this, NATO has stressed that the priority is to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.