Il Annual Report 2024 of NATO, drafted by Secretary General Mark Rutte, photographs a moment of extreme tension for Euro-Atlantic security. The war in Ukraine remains at the center of strategic concerns, but the document broadens its gaze to a global scene marked by growing instability, increasingly marked competition between great powers and a consolidation of agreements between the main adversaries of the Alliance, from Russia to China, up to regimes like Iran. NATO is thus immersed in a complex operational environment, where threats extend across all domains: land, sea, air, space, cyber and information.
One of the most worrying signals, highlighted by Rutte, is the possibility that the United States review their level of commitment to European defense. Without naming him directly, the report suggests that Donald Trump's return to the White House could accelerate Washington's partial disengagement, requiring a significant leap in quality from European allies. The message is clear: Europe must prepare to bear the brunt of its own security, both financially and operationally.
The document also highlights the progress made by the Alliance in terms of military readiness. NATO’s high-readiness forces have been increased to 500.000 personnel, and the “Steadfast Defender 2024” exercise involved over 90.000 soldiers, demonstrating the ability to deploy rapidly and integratedly on a continental scale. However, Rutte warns that these efforts are not enough: a further increase in defense investment is needed. The overall spending of European allies and Canada has reached $486 billion, an increase of 19,4% compared to 2023. But according to the secretary general, a real “quantum leap” is needed to close the technological and capability gap with strategic rivals.
Particular emphasis is given to support for Ukraine. Rutte reiterates that this is not only a moral duty, but also a strategic necessity: a defeated Ukraine would amount to a permanent threat to NATO's borders. For this reason, the report underlines the importance of continuity in military aid, in the supply of ammunition and air defense systems, and in training and interoperability programs. Ukrainian resilience, Rutte says, is also a litmus test of the credibility of the entire Alliance.
Another important topic is climate change, which is treated for the first time in an organic way in the report. Climate impact is described as a threat multiplier that exacerbates regional instability and creates increasingly complex operational conditions. NATO has started measures to integrate the environmental variable into strategic planning, but recognizes that this is only the beginning.
Finally, the report reveals a determined but still politically vulnerable Alliance. Internal cohesion is challenged by divergent factors: economic pressures, transatlantic uncertainties and the need to reconcile military reinforcement with the maintenance of internal consensus. 2025 will be, according to Rutte, a crucial year: Either Europe strengthens its autonomous deterrence and defense capacity within the NATO framework, or it risks being unprepared for a future crisis that could explode. even without warning.
