NATO's Westphalia award Rutte's acceptance speech

May 2025

Zinkann presents the 2026 Peace of Westphalia award to NATO, represented by Rutte; Frohloff introduces his acceptance speech. Rutte credits NATO's civilian and military personnel and congratulates the youth network. He recalls Maurits van Nassau's Nieuwpoort victory over what he calls Austrian forces, the captured white horse and cavalry's importance, using the trophy to illustrate strength, speed and stamina. He estimates more than 40,000 Russians killed or seriously wounded monthly and accuses Russia of hybrid attacks, including an explosive-drone attempt at Leipzig Airport. He urges calm, stronger allied defence and increased Ukraine support. His wider threat assessment cites terrorism and Chinese, North Korean and Iranian military or nuclear programmes. He recalls NATO's agreed 5% spending goal and Merz's May 2025 support, projects over $250 billion in additional European and Canadian core defence investment across 2025–26, and cites Germany's plan for over €150 billion annually by 2029. He calls for trained forces, faster arms production and innovation, including continued supplies for Ukraine, and argues this protects peace. He closes by reaffirming collective defence and unwavering Ukraine support. These estimates, accusations, plans and arguments remain attributed to Rutte.

Rutte's October 1 retrospective credits Merz and his government with a May 2025 decision to support NATO's 5%-of-GDP target for the subsequent Hague summit. He characterizes that backing as an important act of leadership and argues the investment effort benefits Germany, Europe and NATO through security, jobs and opportunity, while qualifying that money alone is insufficient without trained, ready personnel. The source gives no exact decision day, instrument or vote; this is the recalled German position, distinct from the later allied adoption and Rutte's 2026 assessment.