On Thursday (12 March 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attended the Brussels European Defense Exhibition (BEDEX). He praised the crucial role of the defence industry for continued security across Europe and North America.
Speaking at the BEDEX opening ceremony, Mr. Rutte told industry representatives, “The men and women in uniform are crucial but without the equipment they cannot fight, and our adversaries know that, so they need to know that we have a strong defence industrial base.” He also explained the importance of increased defence spending in a more dangerous world, stating, “NATO Allies are committed to investing 5% of their GDP on defence by 2035 because this is about our security, and about our freedom and our prosperity.” The Secretary General toured the exhibition with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart de Wever, and the Minister of Defence, Theo Francken. Mr. Rutte praised Belgium’s investments in defence, adding, “with extra defence investment we can buy the capabilities our militaries need to keep us safe.”
During his visit, Mr. Rutte highlighted the importance of the defence industry across NATO to increase production, accelerate innovation, and strengthen cooperation. “We are unmatched as an Alliance in our industrial strength and innovation power, and I’m absolutely confident that we can succeed together, and we will succeed together. This is good for our security and for our economies,” he said.
At BEDEX, the Secretary General also joined Mr Francken on stage for a public discussion. This evening, Mr. Rutte will deliver a speech at the event.