Secretary General thanks NATO parliamentarians for key role in strengthening the Alliance

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On Monday (26 May 2025), Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Dayton, Ohio to participate in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA) Spring Session. The Secretary General highlighted the NPA’s role in transatlantic cooperation and previewed the priorities for the Summit in The Hague in June.

Mr Rutte said to make NATO stronger, he expects Allies to agree to increase defence investment further. “This plan will mean more money for our core military requirements – hard defence, and more money for defence-related investments, including infrastructure and resilience,” said the Secretary General. He noted the important role of NPA parliamentarians in advocating for higher defence spending with their publics and governments. “You reinforce the bond between NATO and our democratic societies,” he said.

Allies will also work on boosting the defence industrial base. Mr Rutte stressed that “increased defence production is not just good for our security, it is good for our economies too.” The Secretary General noted that all Allies must contribute their fair share, adding that Europe and Canada have already stepped up their defence spending.

In light of the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Agreement, Mr Rutte recalled that “the Dayton Agreement laid the foundation for peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO has supported peace and stability there, and right across the Western Balkans, for thirty years,” he said. But while “the Western Balkans has shown that peace is possible,” Russia “has brought war back to Europe.” After strongly condemning Russia’s recent attacks against Ukrainian civilians, he underlined that NATO’s long-term support to Ukraine will continue, noting that all Allies agree the importance of ensuring a just and lasting peace. “This is not about prolonging the war, it is about ensuring Ukraine can defend itself now, and prevent any future aggression,” he said.

On Sunday 25 May, the Secretary General attended a dinner hosted by the NPA with the theme “Renewed Focus on Peace & Prosperity in the Balkans,” alongside officials from Allied and partner nations.