NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will meet with European defence companies in Brussels next week to urge increased investment and production capacity. The push comes as the alliance seeks to strengthen military capabilities while addressing US President Trump's demands for greater European defence spending. Rutte aims to lay groundwork for announcements at NATO's July summit in Ankara.

Companies including Rheinmetall, Airbus, Saab, and Leonardo have been asked to detail investment plans and production expansion capabilities, particularly in air defence and long-range missiles. NATO officials want to demonstrate tangible results from last year's commitment to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, which could generate a combined $1tn annual increase by 2035.

The initiative reflects growing concerns about US commitment to European security, especially after Washington's recent troop withdrawal plans from Germany. European nations are racing to reduce dependence on American equipment while addressing ammunition shortages and missile capability gaps. Supply chain vulnerabilities, including reliance on Chinese and Taiwanese components, add urgency to the push for domestic production expansion.

Industry tensions persist between companies accusing governments of insufficient long-term procurement contracts and states claiming inadequate production capacity. Rutte's unprecedented gathering of multiple defence executives signals NATO's recognition that industrial mobilization, not just political commitments, determines Europe's security future.