NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte is preparing to press Europe’s leading defence manufacturers to significantly increase investment and accelerate weapons production, according to a report by the Financial Times. The initiative comes as the alliance seeks to strengthen European military readiness while also addressing demands from US President Donald Trump for higher defence spending across member states.
Rutte is expected to meet senior executives from major European arms companies in Brussels next week in an unusually large gathering of defence industry leaders. The Financial Times reports that the meeting will be used to push firms to outline concrete plans for expanding production capacity, particularly in critical areas such as air defence systems and long-range missile technologies. The discussions are also intended to prepare for key announcements at NATO’s annual summit in Ankara in July.
According to people familiar with the preparations cited by the Financial Times, companies have been asked in advance to provide detailed information on planned investments and bottlenecks preventing faster scaling of production. Firms including Airbus, Rheinmetall, Saab, Leonardo, Safran, and MBDA are expected to participate, although several declined to comment on the details of the meeting.
The Financial Times reports that NATO’s push reflects growing urgency within the alliance to demonstrate industrial expansion ahead of its leaders’ summit, where defence output is expected to be a central theme. Officials want to show that recent commitments to increase defence spending are translating into real manufacturing capacity, particularly as Europe seeks to reduce long-standing dependence on US military supplies and technology.
The initiative also comes amid ongoing political pressure from Washington. NATO members previously agreed to increase defence spending targets, and further expansion is expected to be highlighted at the upcoming summit. The Financial Times notes that part of the objective is to ensure that President Trump can point to tangible industrial progress as evidence of burden-sharing within the alliance.
At the same time, tensions remain between governments and defence companies over responsibility for slow production growth. Industry leaders argue that inconsistent long-term procurement contracts have limited their ability to invest, while governments maintain that firms have not expanded capacity quickly enough to meet rising demand. NATO officials, as reported by the Financial Times, are now seeking to bridge this gap by directly engaging industry on investment barriers and supply chain constraints.
The discussions are expected to focus heavily on Europe’s shortage of long-range missile systems and air defence capabilities, areas where reliance on US systems remains high. Some governments are also exploring alternative procurement strategies, including purchases from American suppliers, while European manufacturers are being urged to accelerate development of domestic solutions.
The Financial Times reports that NATO officials view the upcoming meeting as part of a broader effort to transform defence spending commitments into measurable industrial output. The alliance is aiming to strengthen production resilience, expand workforce capacity, and secure critical supply chains, as Europe faces renewed pressure to prepare for sustained geopolitical competition and potential military escalation risks.
