NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm on Friday (13 June 2025) to discuss preparations for the NATO Summit in The Hague.
Mr Rutte noted that Sweden - NATO's newest member - is "already making major contributions across the Alliance" since joining in March 2024, including through contributions to Forward Land Forces in Latvia, and leading NATO's newly established Forward Land Forces in Finland.
"Your Gripen fighter jets help patrol the skies over Poland, and your ships contribute to our enhanced military presence in the Baltic Sea through Baltic Sentry," he said. The Secretary General also highlighted how Sweden's expertise in the High North strengthens NATO's regional posture and reinforces the Alliance's ability to support Baltic Allies.
In 2024, Sweden invested 2.66% of GDP on defence, with plans to go further. "This is a clear demonstration of Sweden's commitment to collective defence," said the Secretary General. Mr Rutte also underlined Sweden's leadership in strengthening NATO's defence industrial base. "You have a world-class defence sector," he said. He welcomed Sweden's role in defence industrial production, research, and resilience.
Secretary General Rutte also commended Sweden for its staunch support of Ukraine. "Since 2022, you have provided over 7 billion euros in military assistance - including 1.25 billion in the first four months of this year alone. In terms of GDP, this places Sweden among the top contributors to Ukraine." He also welcomed Sweden's investment in Ukraine's defence industry, saying: "You are truly leading by example."
Turning to the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague, the Secretary General highlighted the need for increased investment and stronger defence industrial capacity. "I expect leaders to make bold decisions to further strengthen our deterrence and defence - including agreeing a new defence investment plan that would bring our defence investment to 5% of GDP."
