NATO defense ministers talk up spending increases on arrival for Brussels talks on Ukraine
リアクション
2026年06月23日
(18 Jun 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels, Belgium - 18 June 2026
++QUALITY AS INCOMING++
1. Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's Defense Minister, arriving to brief media
2. SOUNDBITE (English), Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defense of Estonia:
“So we need to do more also here in Europe. So Europe needs to be stronger. There is no question. So are we there yet? I would say that we will never be there where we can say that NATO is ready. NATO will never be ready. There are always new capabilities coming, so this is why, you know, it is our job to invest more and to bring more capabilities into our defense, so that's clear."
3. Close of flags
4. SOUNDBITE (English) David McGuinty, Canadian Defense Minister:
"But to make no doubt about it, Canada remains unwavering with respect to its commitment to Ukraine and the war there. And then finally, we were pleased to see the tangential, the beginnings of outcome with respect of the Middle Eastern conflict. Canada remains available to be of assistance with the multinational maritime mission. We've been actively involved with that mission now, with those folks led by the Brits and by the French, to be able to prepare a proper response. So it's good to be here. It's an important moment. NATO is strong; the alliance is strong. We remain very much committed to it."
5. David McGuinty leaving
6. Theo Francken arriving
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Theo Francken, Belgium's Defense Minister:
"Belgium is back, we are finally back. We were one of the founding fathers of NATO, but we were one of the worst pupils of NATO class. Now we have an increase of 60%, we have the biggest increase of all NATO countries on our budget, and we are really trying to really be very operational. We took out a vessel of the shadow fleet, we are helping in Africa, we're doing a lot for Ukraine, and we will do a lot for NATO, long live NATO."
8. Theo Francken leaving
STORYLINE:
NATO defense ministers talked up spending increases on their arrival in Brussels on Thursday for talks on Ukraine.
It came as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte played down on Wednesday the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to cut back the number of troops and military equipment it would provide its allies should they come under attack.
NATO’s supreme allied commander, an American, is working on backup plans to defend Europe after the U.S. signaled on June 3 that it would no longer supply an aircraft carrier and support ships, aerial refueling planes and dozens of fighter jets, among other military assets, in a crisis.
But Rutte said the U.S. is not withdrawing more troops from Europe.
Under NATO’s collective security guarantee – Article 5 of its founding treaty – the 32 allies pledge that an attack on one of them will be considered an attack on all. It does not oblige them to provide military support, although many likely would.
In essence, the United States is scaling back how it might help should an ally trigger Article 5.
The U.S. has by far NATO's biggest armed forces. It does not intend to withdraw its nuclear weapons in Europe, which are key to NATO's deterrence.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a3545ea288314c2e8b1aa4fc821e6bb1
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels, Belgium - 18 June 2026
++QUALITY AS INCOMING++
1. Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's Defense Minister, arriving to brief media
2. SOUNDBITE (English), Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defense of Estonia:
“So we need to do more also here in Europe. So Europe needs to be stronger. There is no question. So are we there yet? I would say that we will never be there where we can say that NATO is ready. NATO will never be ready. There are always new capabilities coming, so this is why, you know, it is our job to invest more and to bring more capabilities into our defense, so that's clear."
3. Close of flags
4. SOUNDBITE (English) David McGuinty, Canadian Defense Minister:
"But to make no doubt about it, Canada remains unwavering with respect to its commitment to Ukraine and the war there. And then finally, we were pleased to see the tangential, the beginnings of outcome with respect of the Middle Eastern conflict. Canada remains available to be of assistance with the multinational maritime mission. We've been actively involved with that mission now, with those folks led by the Brits and by the French, to be able to prepare a proper response. So it's good to be here. It's an important moment. NATO is strong; the alliance is strong. We remain very much committed to it."
5. David McGuinty leaving
6. Theo Francken arriving
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Theo Francken, Belgium's Defense Minister:
"Belgium is back, we are finally back. We were one of the founding fathers of NATO, but we were one of the worst pupils of NATO class. Now we have an increase of 60%, we have the biggest increase of all NATO countries on our budget, and we are really trying to really be very operational. We took out a vessel of the shadow fleet, we are helping in Africa, we're doing a lot for Ukraine, and we will do a lot for NATO, long live NATO."
8. Theo Francken leaving
STORYLINE:
NATO defense ministers talked up spending increases on their arrival in Brussels on Thursday for talks on Ukraine.
It came as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte played down on Wednesday the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to cut back the number of troops and military equipment it would provide its allies should they come under attack.
NATO’s supreme allied commander, an American, is working on backup plans to defend Europe after the U.S. signaled on June 3 that it would no longer supply an aircraft carrier and support ships, aerial refueling planes and dozens of fighter jets, among other military assets, in a crisis.
But Rutte said the U.S. is not withdrawing more troops from Europe.
Under NATO’s collective security guarantee – Article 5 of its founding treaty – the 32 allies pledge that an attack on one of them will be considered an attack on all. It does not oblige them to provide military support, although many likely would.
In essence, the United States is scaling back how it might help should an ally trigger Article 5.
The U.S. has by far NATO's biggest armed forces. It does not intend to withdraw its nuclear weapons in Europe, which are key to NATO's deterrence.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a3545ea288314c2e8b1aa4fc821e6bb1
