NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivers the 62nd Ditchley Annual Lecture

       NATO 3.0: Why Rebalancing the Transatlantic Relationship Matters 

DITCHLEY PARK, Oxfordshire, UK – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivered the 62nd Ditchley Annual Lecture on Wednesday 16th September 2026 to an invited international audience, both in person and online, on the theme of NATO 3.0: Why Rebalancing the Transatlantic Relationship Matters.

Mr Rutte said that to stay transatlantic, NATO was becoming more European, with Europe and Canada spending more, producing more, and doing more for their security. “This is the idea of NATO 3.0. Building for the future. A stronger Europe, in a stronger NATO.”

The Secretary General noted that the UK was serious about security and was already investing more in defence. “And I welcome the new prime minister’s assurance that his government will meet its NATO commitments,” Mr Rutte said. “[The UK] is leading, along with NATO Allies, the push back against Russia’s dangerous and reckless campaign against us.”

With regard to Russia, he warned that NATO would not be intimidated by “Russia’s campaign of hostile actions”. Adding that, collectively, the NATO member countries would continue to strengthen their ability to deter and defend all Allies, against any threat. 

“Russia wants us to stop helping Ukraine – but their actions will only lead us to do more for Ukraine,” Mr Rutte said. “Russia’s actions are a sign of weakness, and a symptom of Putin’s failure in Ukraine.”

“We will keep Ukraine strong, so peace can prevail,” he added.

The Annual Lecture is an opportunity for Ditchley to crystallise thinking around one or more of its major themes, to gather its network, and to draw in new talent. Delivered by a distinguished individual from public life, the lecture is attended by leaders and thinkers drawn from politics, Whitehall, business, finance, and the tech and creative industries and since 2020 has successfully been delivered in a virtual or hybrid format, extending its reach and impact still further.