Mark Rutte urges NATO countries to ramp up weapons production

He made this statement during the presentation of NATO's annual report at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Mark Rutte said that the flow of weapons to Ukraine continued, adding that a significant amount of weapons from stockpiles was also being used in the Middle East, which he described as understandable. He emphasized the need for NATO countries' defense industries to produce more critical weapons

The comment came in response to a question about how long the Alliance would be able to supply Ukraine with the U.S.-made weapons, given the ongoing campaign against Iran.

Rutte addressed France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and other allies with the most impressive defense industrial enterprises in Europe, stressing the need for additional production lines, extra shifts, and the opening of new factories, and noting that the necessary funding was available.

He noted that even without the U.S. campaign against Iran, there is an absolute necessity to increase defense production, adding that this was an issue both Europe and the United States had to face together as a transatlantic defense-industrial base.

As Ukrinform reported, NATO is aware of the risk of potential hostile strikes on the energy infrastructure of member states, as outlined in the Alliance's 2025 annual report.