NATO launches call to action to increase private investment in defence

NATO Allies launched a new "Call to Action" to financial institutions at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara on Tuesday (7 July 2026). The initiative aims to increase private capital investment in defence, security and resilience across the Alliance.

Speaking at the event, the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that significantly more investment is needed to meet the growing demand for defence capabilities. "To keep our defences strong, we need to sustain and scale our industries and fuel innovation across the defence sector. And for this, we need capital," he said. He noted that while more private capital is flowing into defence than before, "it's not nearly enough."

The Call to Action encourages financial institutions to increase lending and equity investments in the defence, security and resilience sectors, while Allies are expected to strengthen domestic financing mechanisms and support public-private co-investment models. The initiative was welcomed by major financial institutions, including Banco Santander, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citi, Deutsche Bank, NatWest, PKO Bank Polski, Danske Bank, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and the NATO Innovation Fund.

Together, these institutions have already mobilised 217 billion dollars in capital for defence and security. The Secretary General described the launch as "just the beginning" and said he would work closely with the financial sector to further increase investment in Allied defence.