Rutte highlighted Germany’s involvement in various initiatives, including the German-Dutch Corps, the establishment of a tank brigade in Lithuania, and airspace surveillance on NATO’s eastern flank. He urged the defense industry to accelerate arms production to meet urgent needs, stating, “Deterrence is produced in factories as much as it is projected by armed forces.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed Germany’s commitment to NATO, asserting that European nations would approach the upcoming summit in Ankara with confidence, emphasizing mutual dependencies between the U.S. and Europe.