On Thursday (12 November 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the Transatlantic Defense Industry Access Forum (TDIAF). The event, organised by the U.S. Mission to NATO and the U.S. Department of Commerce, took place in Rome and brought together U.S. and European industry representatives. The TDIAF aims to strengthen and expand transatlantic cooperation on defence and innovation.
In his video message, the Secretary General highlighted more than $50 billion in new defence procurements announced at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara last July. He stressed the importance of turning contracts into real capabilities: "And of course, it's not something a single country can do alone. Not even the US. It's a team effort." Mr Rutte welcomed the progress, expansion, and cutting-edge technologies of defence industries across Europe, Canada and the U.S.
Transatlantic cooperation is crucial not only to advance the defence industry, but also to strengthen Allied security, boost jobs and economies, and stimulate innovation. "When we combine our efforts, we produce more. We innovate faster. And we strengthen all our security," said the Secretary General.
