Press conference

Good afternoon. We have just concluded a very good meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.

But first, I want to thank the King and Queen and the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Kristersson, and of course the Foreign Minister of Sweden for their hospitality here in beautiful Helsingborg.

This is the first meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers hosted by Sweden, which joined our Alliance two years ago. And the location says a lot.

Today, all Nordic countries, including Finland that joined in 2023, are together in the NATO Alliance, sharing common commitments to our collective defence and making the Alliance stronger.

And a stronger NATO is what we have been discussing here in Helsingborg today.

Because the threats we face are real.

And we are committed to ensuring that NATO remains ready and able to address any challenge today, tomorrow, and well beyond.

To ensure NATO remains ready, we need to invest in our defence, produce the capabilities we need, and continue our support for Ukraine. These are our priorities for the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, and that is exactly what Foreign Ministers have been working to prepare.

Last year in The Hague, Allies, as you know, made a historic commitment to invest 5% of GDP in defence. The need for this investment is clear, and we are seeing real progress as Allies make major increases to their investments.

In 2025, defence investment from European Allies and Canada was up by 20%. This trend will continue.

Today, Ministers discussed how their countries are charting a credible path to the five percent. This means steady and sustained increase in defence investment. Ambitious and achievable.

And while increased investment is essential, it isn't an end in itself. It is a means through which we become more capable, so that we can further strengthen our armed forces and ensure they have the equipment they need to deter any adversary and defend every Ally.

We know that today our industries are not able to produce everything we require. So Foreign Ministers addressed this urgent need to ramp up defence industrial production across the Alliance. We need to produce faster and at greater scale on both sides of the Atlantic. We do this best when we work together. And Ministers agreed that we must continue to press for continued cooperation across the Alliance to boost our defence industrial capacity.

As Allies invest more and produce more, we are also focused on ensuring that NATO is not only stronger but also fairer. And we see European Allies and Canada taking on greater responsibility for our shared security, and this is crucial. It makes the whole Alliance stronger, firmly anchored by the transatlantic bond.

I know some have been questioning that bond, and perhaps even questioning the resolve of this Alliance to remain united in the face of an adversary.

So let me be crystal clear. Allies' commitment to Article Five is ironclad. Our resolve and ability to defend every Ally is absolute. Were anyone to be foolish as to attack us, the response would be devastating. This is a defensive Alliance.

We are strengthening NATO to deter aggression and to ensure we are able to defend it, if necessary. And this is the path we will continue to pursue.

An important part of ensuring our own security is continuing our support for Ukraine. And this was another topic of discussion among Foreign Ministers. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha joined us here on Thursday evening.

Russia continues to wage its horrific war and target civilians and civilian infrastructure. Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty and independence with bravery and ingenuity.

And we are working to ensure that our support for Ukraine remains substantial, remains predictable, remains sustainable, and based on Ukraine's critical requirements.

The Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, PURL, remains an important mechanism for delivering urgent support to Ukraine.

Providing crucial US equipment that makes a real difference on the front lines and helps protect Ukraine's cities and civilians.

Allies continue to contribute through this and other means. Ukraine must have what it needs to defend itself today and deter future aggression tomorrow.

Finally, Ministers exchanged views on wider developments affecting Allied security, including in the Middle East. Iran continues to attempt to hold the global economy hostage by closing the Strait of Hormuz. This direct assault on freedom of navigation and global commerce impacts us all. It is important that countries are coming together around plans to ensure that the Strait can be open for transit, including by moving essential assets to the region.

This is another clear reminder of how security challenges are increasingly interconnected and that Allies and partners have a strong interest in working closely and proactively together.

Our discussions here in Helsingborg have been essential as we prepare for our Summit in Ankara just six weeks from now.

And the task ahead is clear.

To turn Allied commitments into concrete results: increased investment, industrial production, and continued support for Ukraine.

All of this contributes to a stronger NATO and greater security for all of us.

Sweden joined the Alliance two years ago, because the security situation in Europe had fundamentally changed. Together, all Allies are shaping NATO's response: enhanced deterrence and defence, better burden sharing, increased defence production, and consistent support for Ukraine.

In a more dangerous world, we are actively building a stronger NATO.

And with that, I'm ready to take your questions.