Speaking by video to U.S .and European industry representatives in Rome on 12 November, he cited more than $50 billion in new defence purchases announced at NATO’s Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara in July.
Rutte said delivering on those contracts would require countries to work together, including the United States. “It’s a team effort,” he said.
The U.S. Mission to NATO and the U.S. Department of Commerce organised the Rome meeting, the Transatlantic Defense Industry Access Forum, to expand cooperation on defence and innovation.
Rutte welcomed the growth of defence industries in Europe, Canada and the United States and highlighted the new technologies they are developing.
“When we combine our efforts, we produce more,” Rutte said.
He said closer cooperation would also speed up innovation, support jobs and strengthen both economies and security across the alliance.
Source: NATO HQ.
