A year ago, NATO countries agreed to increase defense-related spending to five percent of GDP, of which 3.5 percent will go to military defense.
I welcome your plans to move forward quickly and increase defense spending to 3.5 percent by 2030, Rutte says.
I hope more allies follow this accelerated timetable.
The parliamentary parties already agreed a year ago to aim for 2030.
Russian Shadow Fleet
The statements were made during Kristersson and Rutte's visit to Revinge, outside Lund, where rescue personnel are being trained for civil defense.
At the press conference, Rutte praised Sweden further.
"I commend Sweden for the measures it is taking against the Russian shadow fleet," NATO's Secretary General said.
He points out that the shadow fleet helps Russia circumvent sanctions and finances the war of aggression against Ukraine.
It is important for Sweden, for the Baltic Sea region and for the security of all NATO allies.
Counting on Sweden
Rutte also thanked Sweden for its support for Ukraine. He reiterated that Sweden has made NATO stronger with its advanced military capabilities, world-class defense technology, a strong defense industry and a total defense system in which civil society cooperates with military defense, something that is unusual internationally.
I know that I can count on Sweden to continue to be an example in NATO.
The visit to Revinge was made hours before the first meeting of NATO foreign ministers on Swedish soil in Helsingborg, where much of the discussion is about preparing for the NATO summit in Ankara in July.
Officially, the central issues are how to quickly translate the growing defense spending into military capability, how to induce the defense industry to produce more, and how to secure long-term support for Ukraine.
Playing down
There is also expected to be talk about the US's reduced military involvement in Europe. However, Rutte is downplaying the significance of this.
The United States will remain committed to its nuclear umbrella and to conventional forces, he says.
The troop withdrawals announced by the US will have no impact on NATO's defense plans.
Rutte also downplays the significance of the open disputes between the Trump administration in the US and other NATO countries that have unfolded recently.
We are democracies; we love to debate, but in the end we always agree, all 32 countries.
