NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham visit RAL Space
On Wednesday (16 September 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited the United Kingdom and met with Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The leaders visited Harwell Science and Innovation campus in Didcot, where they met with defence sector representatives, apprentices and staff. Mr Rutte highlighted the 'societal dividend' produced by defence investment - jobs and economic growth. He praised the United Kingdom for its innovative technologies, defence industry, and world-class universities. He thanked the UK for its role as a leading force within NATO.
Later, Mr Rutte delivered the Annual Lecture at The Ditchley Foundation in Oxfordshire. He said: "to stay transatlantic, NATO is becoming more European. A NATO with Europe, and Canada, spending more, producing more, and doing more for their security. This is the idea of NATO 3.0."
The Secretary General also commended the UK for "leading, along with NATO Allies, the push back against Russia's dangerous and reckless campaign against us." Stressing that "NATO will not be intimidated by Russia's campaign of hostile actions... their actions will only lead us to do more for Ukraine."
