NATO's Secretary General thanked Romania for its leadership in Black Sea security issues, increased defence spending, and unwavering support for Ukraine. He then met with senior national representatives before speaking at the NATO-Industry Forum in Bucharest on 6 November. The forum, themed “Rearming NATO – Innovate, Accelerate, Sustain”, brought together NATO leaders, policymakers, and representatives from the defence industry to strengthen cooperation and industrial readiness.
“A strong defence requires a strong defence industry,” Rutte stated, emphasising that allies are now working to increase defence investments to 5% of GDP by 2035. He added: “We are now turning decisions into action, and for this, we need you,” urging the industry to boost production and drive innovation to meet growing security needs.
Rutte warned of persistent threats: “Russia will remain a destabilising force in Europe and the world,” pointing to its close ties with China, Iran, and North Korea, which are “preparing for a long-term confrontation.” He stressed: “We must not be naive. We must be prepared,” while also expressing confidence that NATO and its partners can “outpace, outproduce, and outsmart those who seek to harm or weaken us.”
He urged the industry to “be ready to increase deliveries, expand existing production lines, and open new ones,” affirming NATO's focus on faster procurement and support for innovation. After the forum, Rutte met with students at Bucharest University to discuss NATO's role in addressing current and future security challenges. The visit underscored Romania's growing importance in regional defence and NATO's focus on long-term strategic readiness.