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NATO Launches Two New Defense Industry Initiatives to Boost Weapons Production
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NATO has unveiled two new initiatives aimed at accelerating defense production across the Alliance and strengthening cooperation with the defense industry to support both NATO members and Ukraine.
The announcement was made by Secretary General Mark Rutte announced during the NATO Defense Industry Forum held alongside the NATO Summit in Ankara on July 7, according to UNITED24 Media correspondent present at the event.
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According to Rutte, the Alliance is launching NATO Front Door for Industry, a new platform designed to simplify engagement between NATO and defense companies.
The platform will serve as a single point of access to information on NATO procurement opportunities, innovation programs, and other forms of cooperation with the Alliance. It will initially operate in a pilot phase before becoming fully operational in 2027.
Rutte also announced the creation of NATO Engine, a new mechanism intended to strengthen transatlantic industrial cooperation and expand weapons production across Allied countries.
He noted that no single country possessed the industrial capacity required to meet growing defense demand, stressing that NATO must significantly expand large-scale weapons production, replenish its stockpiles, and accelerate innovation in order to outpace its competitors.
The NATO Engine initiative aims to help promising defense companies increase production without requiring substantial upfront investment. It is also expected to establish a network of manufacturers and production facilities across the Alliance, enabling more efficient use of existing industrial capacity, according to the NATO chief.
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On July 6, Rutte said European NATO allies and Canada have already increased defense and security spending to approximately 4% of GDP, only one year after committing to reach 5% over the next decade.
Speaking ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, he said the pace of increased investment reflects a major shift in burden-sharing within the Alliance, with European members steadily moving toward matching US defense spending after years of relying heavily on Washington.
Rutte added that core defense spending by European allies and Canada rose by nearly 20% compared with the previous year, while additional investments made across 2025 and 2026 total approximately $258 billion.
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