NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the need for European countries to increase their defense contributions during a meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference. Rutte agreed with the Trump administration’s stance that NATO members in Europe must take on a larger share of the military burden.
Speaking alongside Vance, Rutte emphasized that NATO nations are falling behind global adversaries. “We are simply not producing enough,” he said. “We are not keeping up with the Russians and the Chinese.” He also noted that the alliance must strengthen its defense industrial base to maintain security.
Vance reiterated that President Donald Trump expects NATO to be more self-sufficient and prepared for future challenges. “We want to make sure that NATO is actually built for the future,” he stated, emphasizing that European countries should take greater responsibility so the United States can focus on security concerns in Asia.
Ukraine was also a major topic of discussion, with Rutte stating that any future peace agreement must be lasting. “No Minsk again,” he said, referring to past ceasefire deals that failed to prevent further conflict. He stressed that NATO must ensure Ukraine is in a position of strength before any negotiations take place.
Rutte also expressed appreciation for American leadership, stating that he understood the importance of burden-sharing. He thanked Vance for his engagement with European allies and emphasized that NATO must adapt to current geopolitical realities.
The meeting marked Vance’s first major diplomatic engagement at the Munich Security Conference. Discussions over NATO’s future role and the Ukraine conflict are expected to continue as the conference progresses.
