On June 18, 2026, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Allied Defence Ministers have made significant strides in defence spending and capabilities during their final meeting prior to the NATO Summit in Ankara. Rutte emphasized the necessity for NATO to be prepared to safeguard every inch of allied territory, reinforcing the warning from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February about Europe's readiness to confront Russia if required. A report from the Institute for the Study of War indicates that Moscow is escalating both covert and overt operations against Europe in anticipation of a potential conflict with NATO.
