Pre-ministerial press conference

Yes, good afternoon, good to see you.

Over the next two days, NATO Defence Ministers will meet for the first time since the Washington Summit. 

And we will take forward the implementation of key decisions we made in Washington on:
-    bolstering our deterrence and defence,
-    supporting Ukraine, and 
-    deepening our global partnerships. 

I look forward to chairing my first ministerial meeting as NATO Secretary General.

And it will be the first time that our Indo-Pacific partners – Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea – join us in this format.

As in the past, we have also invited the EU - a testament to our unique partnership.

And I am looking forward to welcoming Minister Umerov at a session of the NATO-Ukraine Council, 

Where he will brief us on battlefield developments and Ukraine’s urgent needs.

Since taking office, I have made clear that strengthening our Alliance –deterrence and defence is my top priority. 

We need to move further and faster to meet the growing threats we face.

This requires more forces, capabilities and investment to meet the ambitious targets set by our defence plans,
Expanded defence industrial capacity,
More robust supply chains,
And leveraging new technologies to ensure that we remain resilient across all domains.

We have already made progress across all these lines of effort, 
But more really needs to be done. 

On defence industrial capacity, for example, 
We have made significant advances over the past two years on the production of munitions, 
And the manufacturing of new ships, combat vehicles and jets. 
But we are still not producing enough. 
And the costs remain too high.
So we must scale up together to produce more and at lower cost, 
And we must do so quickly. 

Defence investments are critical to defending our one billion citizens.
They provide the equipment we need to deter and defend.
They strengthen our technological edge. 
And they increase the interoperability of our forces. 

In other words, there cannot be strong defence without strong defence industry. Achieving this requires increased defence spending,
Firm orders,
And they have to be long term.

I am engaging with Allies, and have spoken to a number of big defence industry players on how best to deliver on this key priority.

I also expect that Ministers will greenlight a new NATO initiative to improve standardisation. 

Standards underpin our ability to fight together. 
And better implementation of standards can help reduce costs of defence procurement. 
So this is essential work for NATO. 

Just two weeks ago I made my first official trip as Secretary General.
The destination was Kyiv.

There, I reaffirmed that NATO stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, now and into the future. 

We are working – and with urgency – to deliver:

-    a new NATO command to coordinate security assistance and training for Ukraine;
-    more support to build Ukraine’s future forces;
-    a financial pledge of at least 40 billion euros of military aid within a year; and
-    initiatives to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to NATO membership.

Earlier this week I visited the new command that is being set up in Wiesbaden, Germany, 
Where I met with staff who will be coordinating international security assistance to Ukraine.

Work has started, and we expect the command to become fully operational in the coming months. 

This will enable Allies to provide more coordinated and consistent support for Ukraine, for the long term. 

On the financial pledge, I am delighted to report that we are firmly on track to delivering the 40 billion pledged for the coming year, as agreed in Washington. 

I can announce today that NATO Allies committed 20.9 billion euros in military assistance to Ukraine during the first half of 2024. 

And Allies are on track to meet their commitments for the rest of the year.

So the message is clear: NATO is delivering for Ukraine, and we will continue to do so. 

Defence Ministers will also review the status of NATO’s current operations and missions in Kosovo and Iraq.

The situation in the Western Balkans remains concerning.
With secessionist threats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
a fragile security situation in Kosovo,
and little progress made in the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

Russia is also seeking to undermine democracies in the region with cyber and hybrid threats, including disinformation, using internal vulnerabilities to sow divisions.
For over two decades, KFOR has maintained a safe and secure environment for all people in Kosovo and freedom of movement.
NATO’s commitment to KFOR remains strong today.
And in the Middle East, 
At the request of Iraqi authorities, 
We have broadened the scope of our support for Iraq’s Security Institutions, 
And we continue our engagement through NATO Mission Iraq to promote security and stability.

Finally, I am looking forward to exchanging views on the current global security situation with our Indo-Pacific partners and the EU.

The growing alignment of authoritarian actors like China, Russia, North Korea and Iran is undermining stability in the Euro-Atlantic and in the Indo-Pacific regions.

In this more interconnected world, it is vital that we tackle our shared security challenges together.

The expanded presence at the NATO table tomorrow demonstrates our commitment to working with our like-minded partners to defend our values and interests.

We are particularly looking to increase cooperation in the areas of innovation, supply chains and defence industrial production. 

And with that, I am ready to take your questions. 
 
 

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Thank you. We'll take some questions now. We'll start with Interfax Ukraine.

Iryna Somer (Interfax Ukraine): Iryna Somer, News Agency Interfax Ukraine. Today, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the first point of his victory plan is an invitation for NATO membership, while the real membership can wait for the future. What will be your thoughts on this? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Well, clearly, the victory plan we discussed, we are also discussing it with Allies. It will, no doubt, also be on the table this week, when, of course, we have on Thursday the meeting between Ukraine and NATO on Thursday night with the defence ministers. As you know, at the NATO summit, Allies agreed that Ukraine's pass to membership is irreversible, and Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before. We have the comprehensive assistance package. We are establishing a NATO command. I just spoke about it and said to being founded now in Wiesbaden. There we will coordinate and provide security assistance and training for Ukraine. We have agreed on the pledge to 40 billion, and we are on track on delivering and of course, many Allies have signed bilateral security agreements with Ukraine. So, the work we are doing together is making Ukraine stronger, more interoperable with NATO and better prepared than ever to join our Alliance. And I believe that all this work clearly constitutes a bridge to NATO membership. Ukraine will join the Alliance, of course, when the time is right. And we will discuss, of course, also this item in Zelenskyy’s victory plan.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, we'll go to National News Agency of Ukraine.

Dmytro Shkurko (National News Agency of Ukraine): Thank you so much. Dmytro Shkurko, National News Agency of Ukraine. We have confirmed reports that Russia and North Korea concluded some kind of new agreement, which is about not only the supply of weapons, but also sending troops to the combat. Do you have such information? And do you observe some kind of logistical operations in supporting such a move? And what is NATO’s reaction to that dangerous development?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: I cannot confirm these reports, but obviously they are concerning. What we do know is that North Korea is helping to fuel Russia's war effort against Ukraine, and we strongly condemn the, let's say, deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. But, at this stage, we cannot confirm the reports you were mentioning.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, over to the third row.

Thomas Gutschker (FAZ): Secretary General, I have two questions. The first one: more than two years ago, Ukraine applied for NATO membership, but this application has never been taken on in the North Atlantic Council or another forum. Do you intend to change that and to have a discussion on the proposal itself. And the second question on the financial pledge. I take it that the 40 billion will be met this year. But of course, the pledge in DC has been for the next year. So, depending on how you count between the two summits, or for the 12 months of 2025, are Allies also on track to meet the 40 billion for this period of time?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Your second question is related to a first pledge for 40 billion, but also the clear intent to continue to provide this. The 40 billion was based on the fact that, when you aggregate together the support which was given to Ukraine in, let's say, 2022 and in 2023, that you would basically come to this figure of 40 billion in support. That is basically the reason behind the 40 billion. But that is an explicit decision, which has to be taken later, but it is the clear intent, because we want to support Ukraine also for the long term. We are in this for the long haul, if that is necessary, and Russia has to understand this, that we will not let go of this, and that he will not leave Ukraine alone. On your first question, it is my firm belief that one day, Ukraine will be a member of NATO, and I will applaud when that day comes. It's also very clear that Putin or Russia have no say in this. No vote, no veto. They cannot influence that discussion. And then obviously it is up to the Allies to discuss amongst themselves, who how to take this forward. But the fact that we are doing all these, all this work on improving the interoperability of Ukraine with NATO, not only the money, but also the training and the other programs we are running currently with Ukraine as Allies, but also, of course, the individual commitments Allies made in terms of their security agreements with Ukraine. This all is about making sure that Ukraine is ready stands ready when the day comes when NATO membership is possible. But I cannot today now exactly sketch out what that path will be, but I am absolutely confident that in the future, Ukraine will join us.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, we'll go to answer second row, please.

Mattia Bagnoli (ANSA): Thank you, Secretary General, Mattia Bagnoli, ANSA Italian News Agency. On the pledges, there seems to be an easiness amongst Allies on the burden sharing regarding Ukraine, because some Allies could do more, apparently. Do you share that assessment? And secondly, on the Middle East, it is not formally on the agenda, but could become sort of the elephant in the room, if the situation deteriorates further, it could have an impact on the overall security of the Alliance. So, do you have anything to add on that point?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Thank you. On the on the first point, of course, we call upon all Allies to meet their commitments, and overall, we are now in a good place for the first half year, and we think we can get there for the full year. I'm not going to release exactly what type of amount of money each country is doing, but internally, we are completely transparent about that, because that's important also for Allies amongst themselves to hold the other accountable and say, Hey, we are doing more. You are doing not enough. Could you please step up? But as a whole, we are above the 20 billion. We are at 20.9 billion. On the Middle East, as my predecessor said, we cannot solve everything in the world. And this is, of course, a highly worrying situation, which is now taking place in Gaza in Israel and Lebanon. We know that Allies are, on an hour to hour basis, trying to navigate the crisis. Obviously, we talk about it amongst ourselves, but it is not an issue on the agenda, because in the end, NATO is a transatlantic partnership. Obviously, there is a link to NATO through what we are doing in Iraq to make sure that our people there helping the Iraqi government to build the Iraqi armed forces and to do everything Iraq has asked us to do, that they are safe and can work as well as possible and as safe as possible.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay? Wall Street Journal, please. Thank you.

Dan Michaels (Wall Street Journal): Thank you, Secretary General. Dan Michaels, Wall Street Journal. Two questions. With the IP4, what do you expect to accomplish at the meeting? And separately, you mentioned about NATO standards. NATO has been working for decades to standardize. It has lots of standards and doesn't follow them. Why do you think you can make progress now when you haven't in the past? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Well, on the first question, of course, it's extremely positive that these four countries are participating more and more with NATO Allies, because of the simple fact that security threats in the Indo Pacific, of course, have a link to what is happening here, and you cannot simply divide the world. And now the question is, how to deepen that partnership. And some of the things we are looking at for this week is to discuss how we can work together on industry, production, how we can work together, on innovation, how we can learn from each other more generally. So that really deepen that partnership. That will, of course, has started before, but it is important that that not only the meeting is the message, but that there is more and more content to that relationship. I mean, you look at the individual partners - Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea - what they are adding already, also bilaterally with Allies in NATO, is really considerable. The second question, the standards, you're absolutely right. This is not easy, but it is quite crucial, because there is a link to innovation, there is a link to industry. There is also a link, therefore, to our deterrence and defence. Of course, Ukraine, crucially up there as a main priority. But when you talk about defence and deterrence, we have to get industrial production going. We have to explain to companies why they can put in extra shifts and can build extra production lines. Therefore, we need to basically use every lever we have, and standardization will help here, also, of course, in a situation in which NATO countries have really to go to war if that would happen. Hopefully not. You have to know that you're totally interoperable and that the standards are there, but you're right. It's not easy. But this is something I have come to view over the last couple of years, but also in the first couple of weeks here. More and more Allies understand that this is urgent, and we cannot any longer continue as we did by basically being too slow on standardization. That's why I believe that this week we will take some decisions on that.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Fuji TV, please.

Naoto Yamagishi (Fuji TV): Thank you very much, Secretary General. Fuji Television, Yamagishi from Japan. Also a question about IP4. Why do you think it is necessary now to meet those countries at this timing? And also, are you planning to reach any joint statement or declaration or any other agreement by the end of the meeting?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Well, what we aim to do basically, and probably we will then bring that out in a press release, etc… I think the four partners will clearly speak with you and other representatives of the media. But it is important that we take that, that we start to sketch out what the next step should be in terms of building that relationship between the four partners in the Indo Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea and NATO allies. You are from Japan and Japan, for example - but this is the same for the other three - you are a long-standing partner. This is not new, yes, okay, since a couple of years, leaders participated in NATO summits, and this will be the first time defence ministers or high officials participating in a NATO defence ministers meeting. But why is this logical? Because Japan, for example, and NATO, we share the same values. We face many of the same challenges. You have shown extremely strong solidarity with Ukraine. You have contributed substantially to NATO's Ukraine funds. Of course, we share concerns about China's heavy military build-up so on all these issues already also bilaterally between Allies, but also NATO and Japan, we are working and again, I could say the same for New Zealand, South Korea and Australia, with maybe different points of emphasis, but generally this relationship has been in the making for a long time. It's not just happening since a couple of years ago. But it is important that you take it to the next step, I believe, because there are so many opportunities. I must say my background was in the EU as you know, and we produced endless amounts of statements. But my experience is the most important about statements is that you come to the same page. That when you get out of the meeting, you all feel that there is this added benefit. And I'm absolutely convinced that when you will speak to the Japanese Minister leaving the meeting, that he will sense and because of all the input Japan already has given to the whole process, that this is very useful.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, Deutsche Welle next, please.

Alexandra von Nahmen (Deutsche Welle) : Thank you very much, Secretary General, Alexandra von Nahmen, Deutsche Welle, Germany's international public service broadcaster. Thank you, following up on what my colleague just asked. What kind of message do you want to send to Beijing by hosting the Ministers from the Indo Pacific partner countries here in Brussels. And one more clarification may be on Zelenskyy’s victory plan. Do you fully support this plan, and how do you see the path forward? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: On the victory plan, this is clearly Ukraine's victory plan, which we, of course, take note of, we will discuss. There are many items on that agenda which we will have to really deepen out understand what is behind it. This is something which will take place behind closed doors, also with Allies. So, I will not comment on every element in the plan, but it is, of course, a strong signal from Zelenskyy and his team that they designed this plan that they are now taking it forward. That doesn't mean that I here can say I support the whole plan. That would be a bit difficult, because there are many issues. Of course, you have to understand better, and you will have maybe some different views on particular aspects of the plan, but that doesn't say that we are not standing squarely behind Ukraine in making sure that Putin is not getting his way and that Ukraine prevails in this war with Russia. Yes, then on the Indo Pacific. So, there is a clear sign of this deepening cooperation for the reason, and that is, yes, for example, you mentioned China, yeah, China and Iran, but also in the region North Korea, they are fuelling Russia's war of aggression. So that is a clear concern to NATO Allies, but also to the four partners in the Indo Pacific. They are the four of them challenging, obviously, security, both here in the Euro Atlantic, but also, again, in the Indo Pacific. And as I said, what happens here or Indo Pacific directly influences what happens in the other part of the world. So therefore, you need to work together. This week, I think we will take work forward on how we can support Ukraine, we will discuss, as I said, new technologies and industry probably also focusing somewhat more on artificial intelligence. Countering disinformation is a big item on our agenda. And, of course, cyber defence, this is an issue we all confronted with. So we are really determined to take that work forward. It is not against China or any other one country in the world, but clearly also China itself is a decisive enabler of what's happening in Ukraine, supporting Russia's war effort in –by sanctions circumvention, by dual use, and that has an impact, of course, also on China's standing in the world. But this partnership with the AP4 is not only about China. It is a broader partnership, acknowledging that our two regions are interconnected.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, we'll go to the lady in the third row, white jacket, yes.

Liridona Gashi (Klan Kosova TV): Liridona Gashi, Klan Kosova TV, Pristina, based in Kosovo. Thank you very much. What is your views on Russian influence on the Western Balkans, including along the administrative boundary line, and the role of the KFOR as police [inaudible] Kosovo, well they have said, the Serbian gendarmerie has been near the border in the Merdar and I wanted to know your views on the importance of KFOR at this critical juncture for Kosovo’s security. Thank you very much.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: KFOR is there and will stay, so that on your last point, and more generally, let's not be naive. Russia is, as we know, and we can see, and you can see, is seeking to undermine democracies in the region. We know for a fact that cyber and hybrid threats are absolutely there, and you are confronted with them and disinformation is there, and we know that they try to use the internal vulnerabilities to sow the division and therefore make it more difficult, for example, for Pristina and Belgrade to get to some sort of discussion, for other parts of the region to make sure that they prevent secessionist movements to move forward, this is what Russia is always doing, trying to steer difficulty and what we have to do is remain calm and focused. And KFOR is doing that, NATO is doing that. I know that our partners on the Western Balkans are doing –I was so happy that you had the meeting in Berlin. I think it was on Monday or Tuesday with Olaf Scholz and others in the German administration. So that’s all testimony that, yes, they are trying to interfere in the Western Balkans, the Russians, but we will not let ourselves be deflected by that. We will stay concentrated on this.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, thank you. We'll go to AFP at the back there.

Olivier Baube (AFP): Thank you, Olivier Baube from AFP, Secretary General on military spending, you said 2% is not enough. So, I was wondering if you would ask the Allies to raise the target, maybe to two and a half percent formally. Are you going to make a proposal on that, and secondly, on the victory plan again, I understood you don't want to comment on it, but do you think it's a good plan? Will NATO help Ukraine to implement it?

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Well, the plan has many aspects and many political and military issues we really need to hammer out with the Ukrainians to understand what is behind it, to see what we can do, what we cannot do. But in the meantime, we will continue massive military aid moving into Ukraine. Russia has to understand we will keep on doing that as long as they continue the war effort. The war is, at this moment, having a considerable impact on Russia, when we look at the many casualties every day, even if they make some small progress now in the east, so on all of this, this is something we really have to take forward.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay, we'll have –

Olivier Baube (AFP)
[inaudible]

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Yes, and on military spending, good question, but we are not going to this week discuss what the target should be. So first of all, since 2014 we moved up since the Wales discussion to the 2% even if you would take USA out of the numbers, the rest of NATO, including Canada, is now as a whole at 2%, that is a considerable success. When you compare that to where we were in 2014 when only the UK, the US and Greece, was at 2% so from three countries, we moved to 23 countries, still nine Allies, not at two but as a whole, without the US on 2% I'm convinced everybody in this building, and I think everybody in NATO, that 2% will not be enough if, long term, we want to make sure that we remain our deterrence and our defence at the level which is necessary, but we will have to have that discussion amongst Allies, what that means in terms how as an Alliance as a whole, we will set the targets. And I don't think it's helpful if I would hear out of the air come up with a number.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Okay. One final question to Yonhap.

Binna Chung (Yonhap News Agency): Thank you. Binna Chung from Yonhap News Agency South Korea. Hello. Thank you for the floor. Follow up question on North Korea regarding sending troops to Russia, you said that you cannot confirm yet. So are you already in contact with the Korean government to verify and share information on this matter, and if it is verified, do you personally think that it is time for countries, for example, particularly South Korea to step up its support to Ukraine. Thank you.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Well, again, we do not have reports confirming this, but of course, it is highly worrying. And even if it's not, if it is not true, North Korea is already supporting the war effort. I mean, maybe not with troops. We do not know for sure, but they are with their partnership with Russia and China and Iran. They are helping, and by the way, Russia is also paying for this, maybe not in money, but they don't get this support for free. They have to deliver knowledge and insights and innovation to their partners. So that is a two-way street, which is not always beneficial to Russia. South Korea itself, you are, I mean, of course, North Korea is a big issue for you and for all of us. That's absolutely clear. But you are really helping a lot, also with the war effort and but also in general, with supporting Allies to make sure that we have access to the latest and high-end technologies and industrial output, your proud country is producing. And I really want to thank you for that. And this is in almost every aspect of the military endeavour. We know that South Korea has excellent offers and you are able to produce them at high speeds, acceptable costs can always be cheaper, but so far, you're doing fine, and that is important. And you see now that our partnership with Seoul has deepened, and I think that your political and practical support to Ukraine, also through our Ukraine fund is really helping here. So I can only commend what South Korea is doing. Of course, I call upon everybody to do more if possible, but I'm not criticizing here, South Korea, to the country.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Thank you. That's all we have time for. Thank you very much.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: Thank you so much. We'll see each other a lot over the next two days.