EU and NATO Strengthen Defence Ties Ahead of Ankara Summit, Say Ursula von der Leyen and Mark Rutte

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held key discussions with Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, focusing on strengthening European defence capabilities and sustaining support for Ukraine.

Today with @SecGenNATO we took stock of our common work to bolster European defence and continue support to Ukraine.

We discussed the upcoming NATO Summit and how we can upscale defence industrial output in Europe. We need to invest more, to produce more and to do both faster.… pic.twitter.com/eGO5BEXYbk

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 16, 2026

The leaders reviewed ongoing collaboration between the European Union and NATO, particularly in light of escalating global security challenges. A major focus of the talks was preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit scheduled to take place in Ankara. Von der Leyen emphasized the urgent need to scale up Europe’s defence industrial capacity. “We need to invest more, produce more, and do both faster,” she noted, highlighting the importance of rapid response capabilities amid evolving geopolitical threats. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued support for Ukraine, underscoring the strategic alignment between the EU and NATO in addressing regional and global security concerns. With rising instability across multiple regions, the EU and NATO agreed to intensify coordination in the coming weeks. Their joint efforts aim to reinforce transatlantic security and ensure a successful and outcome-driven NATO Summit in Ankara.