The NATO Summit was on June 24 and 25. Here you will find information about the programm and the events leading up to the summit.
22 June
NATO Mural Competition
The winning mural of the official NATO mural competition was unveiled in The Hague on Sunday 22 June.
‘NATO and the Netherlands: a Journey’
On Sunday 22 June, the travelling exhibition ‘NATO and the Netherlands: a Journey’ closed with a special programme in the World Forum. More than 200 schoolchildren joined De Kiesmannen in exploring stories and questions about peace, security and the significance of NATO. Special guests were Chief of Defence General Onno Eichelsheim and Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp.
23 June
Pre-Summit Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
On Monday 23 June, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a press conference at the World Forum in The Hague, ahead of the NATO Summit.
24 June
NATO Public Forum
Interested parties were able to follow the NATO Public Forum online on the 24 of June. During this public event, heads of state and government, ministers, experts, opinion leaders, young people and academics discussed current issues relating to peace and security. The recorded broadcast of the 24th of June can be viewed via NATO Public Forum.
Wrap-up video: First day of the NATO Public Forum
*Exciting music plays*
*Applause*
We see footage of people and press arriving at the NATO Public Forum.
Donna Farizan – Contributor, Today Show, NBC:
Good morning everyone, and a warm welcome from The Hague. The NATO Public Forum brings together voices from government, civil society, industry, media and youth.
Mark Rutte – NATO Secretary General:
We are living in much more dangerous times and we have to make sure that we defend our beautiful way of life and systems and our values.
Admiral Pierre Vandier – Supreme Allied Commander Transformation:
Multi-domain operations is not only linking the five domains land, air, the maritime, the space and cyber. If we want to be resilient, we need to think as a whole society. It's why you have 1.5% which is dedicated to a global approach.
Margus Tsahkna – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia:
Digitalisation is not actually a threat. It gives a lot more opportunities to run your own societies, even if you are under heavy attacks.
Matthew Whitaker – Permanent Representative of the United States to NATO:
The innovation, the defence manufacturing base, all of those things working together, we're going to have a strong alliance. And most importantly, that strength is what's going to deliver peace for generations to come.
*Music plays*
Mark Rutte – NATO Secretary General:
We have to make sure that whatever the long term ceasefire or the peace deal in Ukraine will be, that it is lasting, that it is durable.
John Healey – Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom:
The one thing that is important to me is that we don't jeopardise that peace by forgetting about the war. The number one priority is to stand with and support and strengthen Ukraine in the fight.
The NATO-summit 2025 logo appears on a blue background.
*Music ends*
On-screen text: NATO Public Forum.
Logo’s of ‘Atlantische Commissie’, Clingendael Institute and The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies appear on screen.
NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum
The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum took place on Tuesday 24 June. Defence ministers, experts and representatives of the defence industry in NATO countries came together to discuss innovation, cooperation and ways of strengthening the industry.
Meeting between the Secretary General, the European Union and Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the European Union met a delegation of Ukraine in The Hague.
Image: © Ministry of Defence/Hille Hillinga
Ukrainian President will address the Dutch House of Representatives
Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed the Dutch House of Representatives on Tuesday. In addition, Prime Minister Schoof had a separate meeting with Zelensky. They spoke on Tuesday afternoon at the Catshuis. This is not an official part of the 2025 NATO Summit programme.
Official Meetings foreign ministers and ministers of defence
On the evening of Tuesday, June 24, two sessions were held at the World Forum. The foreign ministers met for a working dinner of the NATO-Ukraine Council. And the defence ministers met for a working dinner of the North Atlantic Council. A reception for all ministers was held earlier the same evening.
Royal Dinner for heads of state
On the evening of Tuesday 24 June, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima hosted an informal dinner for the heads of state and government of the NATO countries. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, the Director of National Security of South Korea, the President of Ukraine, and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission were invited to attend.
25 June
North Atlantic Council
On Wednesday 25 June, the main focus was on the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, at which the heads of state and government discussed the most important decisions facing the alliance. After the meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and representatives of the Dutch government and other NATO allies held a press conference. Over the course of both days various countries engaged in bilateral talks.
NATO Public Forum
Interested parties were able to follow the NATO Public Forum online on 25 of June. During this public event, heads of state and government, ministers, experts, opinion leaders, young people and academics discussed current issues relating to peace and security. The recorded broadcast of the 25th of June can be viewed via NATO Public Forum.
Wrap-up video: NATO Public Forum 2025
*Inpspiring music plays*
We see several dignitaries arriving at the NATO Public Forum.
The video starts with the hosts explaining what happens at the NATO Public Forum.
Several dignitaries give a short statement or quote throughout the video.
Donna Farizan – Moderator, Today Show, NBC:
Good morning everyone, and a warm welcome from The Hague. The NATO Public Forum brings together voices to engage in open dialog on the NATO summit agenda.
Ikenna Azuike – Moderator:
We're doing deep dives with high level experts. A little bit more context and reflection.
Mark Rutte – NATO Secretary General:
We are living in much more dangerous times, and we have to make sure that we defend our beautiful way of life, systems and our values.
Mette Frederiksen – Prime Minister, Denmark:
We are not at war time, but we are definitely not at peace time anymore.
Matthew Whitaker – Permanent Represantative of the United States to NATO:
The United States isn't going anywhere. We're expecting our European allies to step up, to be equal partners with us in the alliance. And that strength, with all 32 allies, is what's going to deliver that peace.
A short montage gives an overview of the events at the NATO Public Forum.
Mette Frederiksen – Prime Minister, Denmark:
If you look at our industrial capacity, it is still functioning, as it were, at peacetime.
Theo Franken – Minister of Defence, Belgium:
The big countries need to conclude that they need to standardize all their systems. Then production will go up and prices will be lower.
Andris Sprūds – Minister of Defence, Latvia:
If we want to achieve those NATO capability targets. Absolutely it is crucial that industry is partnered in this process.
*Inpsiring music plays*
A short montage gives an overview of the events at the NATO Public Forum.
Meeting between the Secretary General, the President of the United States of America and Indo-Pacific Partners
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will meet the President of the United States of America and Indo-Pacific Partners.
Wrap-up video: NATO Summit 2025
*Inspring music plays*
We see different dignitaries arriving at the World Forum in The Hague.
Several dignitaries give a short statement or quote throughout the video.
*Music crescendoes*
Several different dignitaries:
A historic day for our collective security and a historic day for our defense industry. We really want to underline and convince others to stand together in this diplomatic struggle.
*Applause*
Several different dignitaries:
This is a proud moment for the Netherlands as a founding member of NATO. We really need to build a bridge between what’s discussed here and what people in their home countries experience from day to day. Well, what is the most important? It is peace. These are decisions about war, about peace, about money. We will take historic, transformational decisions to make our people safer through a stronger, fairer and more lethal NATO.
*Music intensifies*
On-screen text:
78 speakers.
2000 journalists.
6000 delegates.
*Intense music crescendoes*
Mark Rutte – NATO Secretary General:
We are living in much more dangerous times and we have to make sure that we defend our beautiful way of life and systems and our values.
*Music ends*
Logo of the NATO summit 2025 appears on screen.