NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance's summit in Ankara marked a turning point for the bloc, with leaders shifting their focus from making new pledges to implementing concrete commitments aimed at strengthening collective security over the coming decade.
Speaking at the closing press conference on the second and final day of the summit, Rutte said allied nations had agreed on a clear path to reinforce NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities amid an increasingly challenging global security environment.
The dominant theme throughout the two-day gathering was defence spending, with alliance leaders discussing how to translate financial commitments into tangible military capabilities.
Rutte welcomed what he described as credible national plans by member states to meet NATO's target of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defence and security by 2035.
He said allies were now moving beyond promises and focusing on practical measures to strengthen military readiness.
The NATO chief also stressed the need for a significant expansion of defence-industrial production, arguing that the alliance must increase output of key military equipment, including missiles, ammunition and air defence systems.
According to Rutte, boosting production capacity is essential to ensuring NATO can respond effectively to current and future threats.
The war in Ukraine remained a major focus of summit discussions.
Rutte reaffirmed NATO's long-term commitment to supporting Kyiv, saying member states would continue providing the military assistance required for Ukraine to defend itself while maintaining pressure on Russia.
Earlier on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the summit.
The two leaders discussed continued military support for Ukraine, including additional air-defence capabilities.
Both Washington and Kyiv described the meeting as constructive, signalling ongoing cooperation despite previous tensions in the relationship.
Rutte also sought to reassure allies about Washington's role within the alliance, saying the United States remains fully committed to NATO.
At the same time, he welcomed increased defence contributions from European allies and Canada, describing them as evidence of a stronger and more balanced transatlantic partnership.
The summit brought together leaders from NATO's 32 member states at Türkiye's Presidential Complex, where discussions covered defence spending, the conflict in Ukraine, security in the Black Sea region, developments in the Middle East and efforts to expand the alliance's defence-industrial base.
Alongside the leaders' meeting, NATO's Defence Industry Forum unveiled new multinational procurement and production initiatives aimed at accelerating military manufacturing and improving interoperability among allied forces.
Rutte said the decisions taken in Ankara would strengthen NATO's collective defence posture and help ensure the alliance remains prepared to meet evolving security challenges.
With the summit drawing to a close, he said NATO's priority would now shift to implementing the commitments agreed by member states and turning them into operational capabilities.
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