Rutte praised Rheinmetall’s rapid work in bringing the new ‘Werk Niedersachsen’ factory into operation. “Congratulations to you personally Armin, and to all those people working in your fantastic company who have built this plant – and ensured it’s up-and-running in record time,” he said.
The Secretary General highlighted the scale of the security challenges facing NATO, pointing to Russia and China’s accelerating military build-up. He stressed: “Their military build-up points in a clear direction: they are preparing for long-term confrontation and competition – with us.”
Rutte outlined NATO’s response, recalling the decision by Allied leaders at the June Summit in The Hague to invest 5% of GDP in defence. He welcomed Germany’s commitment to allocate nearly 153 billion euros by 2029, remarking: “Germany is taking a leadership role, and it has to. You are the biggest economy in Europe, but you are doing it.”
The expansion of ammunition production was presented as a key example of progress. “When it comes to ammunition, this factory alone plans to produce as Armin said, 350,000 artillery shells a year,” he stated. He noted that across Europe, annual capacity has increased sixfold in two years and is expected to reach two million rounds by the end of 2024, with Rheinmetall playing a major role.
He also called for further efforts to scale up more complex defence capabilities such as tanks, missiles and air defence systems. “I’m not saying it’s easy. But it’s absolutely necessary for our security – now and in the future,” Rutte said.
The NATO Secretary General stressed that rearmament was vital not only for security but also for prosperity. He pointed to the creation of jobs, including 500 in Unterlüß, and concluded: “Increased defence production is an engine of economic growth. That’s how we keep our defence capabilities supreme. Our defence industries successful. And NATO strong.”
