NATO Calls for Industrial Mobilization to Win “New War of Production”

NATO released its first public version of the Updated Defence Production Action Plan, which outlines the Alliance’s commitment to aggregate demand, boost capacity, and strengthen engagement with industry.

RMN News World Desk
June 25, 2025

The Hague, 24 June 2025 – Secretary General Mark Rutte urged NATO Allies, partners, and industry to “unite, innovate and deliver” to ensure the Alliance is capable of “win[ning] this new war of production”. Speaking at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in The Hague, Mr. Rutte underscored the critical importance of a robust defence industry, stating, “There’s no defence without a strong defence industry, and there’s no European security without a strong transatlantic bond”.

Rutte highlighted the significant steps NATO is taking to strengthen its defence industrial capacity, increase cooperation, enhance innovation, and expand hundreds of new and existing production lines. He called on Allies and industry to contribute “more, better and together,” emphasizing the clear demand signal NATO is conveying to the defence industry through the substantial uplift in capability targets agreed upon by Allies.

Onstage with Mr. Rutte was President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, and Rutte welcomed the European Union’s Readiness 2030 plan, which is set to unleash up to 800 billion euros for defence. Rutte also advocated for the removal of barriers to transatlantic defence cooperation.

President Zelenskyy of Ukraine also addressed the event, urging for increased security assistance and strengthened defence industrial cooperation between NATO Allies and Ukraine. Mr. Zelenskyy drew attention to Ukraine’s growing defence industry, particularly its “world-leading drone production,” as an attractive foundation for further collaboration.

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The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum served as a critical platform, gathering defence ministers, industry leaders, and experts from across the Alliance and beyond. Its primary objective was to identify practical solutions to bolster transatlantic defence industrial cooperation, enhance production capacity, foster innovation, and leverage the potential of the commercial space sector.

At the commencement of the forum, business leaders from Europe and North America presented an ambition statement to Secretary General Rutte, reflecting their collective commitment to supporting NATO’s Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge. This pledge aims to promote the “prosperity, security and resilience of the Transatlantic economy and society”. Additionally, NATO released its first public version of the Updated Defence Production Action Plan, which outlines the Alliance’s commitment to aggregate demand, boost capacity, and strengthen engagement with industry.