Vice President J.D. Vance and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met Friday at the Munich Security Conference, where both leaders discussed increasing European military spending and the future of the alliance. Rutte acknowledged that NATO’s European members must invest more in their own defense, saying, “We have to grow up in that sense and spend much more.”
Vance, making his first diplomatic appearance at the conference, reiterated that the Trump administration remains committed to NATO but expects European countries to take greater responsibility for defense. He emphasized that the United States cannot continue carrying a disproportionate share of the alliance’s military burden.
“This is our second meeting,” Vance said. “We’re going to talk about NATO, in particular the President’s desire to see NATO spend a little bit more resources on defense.” He also highlighted the need for NATO to prepare for future challenges beyond Europe.
Rutte agreed that NATO must modernize its approach and improve its defense capabilities. “We are simply not producing enough,” he said, pointing to concerns that NATO countries are lagging behind Russia and China in military production.
The two leaders also discussed Ukraine, with Rutte firmly rejecting any return to failed past agreements. “No Minsk again,” he said, referencing the previous ceasefire deal that failed to secure lasting peace. He argued that NATO must ensure Ukraine is strong enough to deter future aggression.
The meeting underscored the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to push NATO members toward greater defense commitments. As discussions continue, further talks on military spending and NATO’s evolving role are expected to take place.
