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Missiles, Ukraine, NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said NATO must continue supporting Kyiv after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine overnight into Monday, targeting Kyiv and other areas, with Ukrainian officials reporting at least 20 people killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
“NATO chief says alliance 'already benefits' from Türkiye's defense industry Rutte cites ASELSAN as one example among thousands of Turkish defense firms, says Türkiye's role in alliance is 'really important' Beril Canakci and Muhammed Yasin Gungor 06 July 2026•Update: 06 July 2026 ANKARA NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday said NATO is already benefiting from Türkiye's defense industrial output, describing ASELSAN as one example among roughly 3,000 defense companies operating in the country”
At a pre-summit news conference in Ankara, Rutte called the strikes “another horrific attack” and said “Ukraine's security is so closely linked with our own.”
Rutte also urged allies to convert increased defense spending into concrete military capabilities, telling reporters, “Allies must translate our economic might into military capabilities,” as NATO heads of state and government met in Ankara on July 7-8 for the alliance's 2026 summit.
He previewed Tuesday’s NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, saying, “We will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend.”
Rutte tied the alliance’s Ukraine focus to broader defense priorities, saying the summit would focus on sustaining military support for Ukraine and expanding defense industrial production.
China warning, allied response
Rutte told reporters that NATO “can't be naive” about China after being asked about Beijing’s military activities, including a recent missile test, ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara.
He said NATO is watching “what's happening in the Indo-Pacific,” and added, “I can assure you we are not,” as he linked Indo-Pacific developments to transatlantic security.
In a separate account of his remarks, LIGA.net quoted Rutte warning that “These theaters of operations are becoming increasingly intertwined and interconnected,” and said “What happens in the Indo-Pacific region matters for what happens in the transatlantic region.”
Rutte also argued that China’s role extends to the war in Ukraine, saying “We see this in the war with Ukraine, where China, North Korea, and Iran are key enablers of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.”
The Nightly reported that Rutte said he was “just texting this afternoon with the Japanese Defence Minister” and called the missile launch “evidence of the fact that we cannot be naive about China.”
Industrial output and stakes
Rutte said NATO is already benefiting from Türkiye’s defense industrial output, describing ASELSAN as “one example” among roughly 3,000 defense companies operating in the country.
“✕ Home News Analysis Agro-Forestry Art & Culture Technology Economy & Business Education Energy & Extractives Politics Law & Governance Health Science & Environment Social & Gender Sports Transport Urban Development WASH Research LogIn/SignUp Close the sidebar China's Pacific Missile Test-Firing: A Bold Signal to NATO China's missile launch from a nuclear submarine into the Pacific serves as a clear signal to NATO, as emphasized by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who warns against naivety”
He said “Türkiye is already, through its defense industry, supporting so many other countries,” and added that ASELSAN is among the five companies selected by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) last year for NATO's Modular Air Defense Concept Stage.
Rutte also said the alliance is expected to take center stage at Tuesday's NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, where allied governments and defense companies will unveil new defense contracts and multinational industrial initiatives.
In the same Ankara setting, Rutte urged allies to put “cash to work” for drones, missiles and air defense interceptors, framing the push as part of how NATO will deter and defend.
The stakes for Ukraine and for NATO’s wider posture were underscored by Rutte’s insistence that “Ukraine's security is so closely linked with our own,” while he linked that security to NATO’s ability to expand defense industrial production.
