NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued an end-of-year message to Allied service members, thanking troops deployed across the Alliance for their work and commitment during 2025. The message was directed at military personnel serving at home and abroad, including those spending the holiday period away from their families.
Rutte praised the professionalism of NATO’s men and women in uniform and linked their daily service to the Alliance’s deterrence and defence mission. His message came at the end of a year in which NATO continued to reinforce its eastern flank, expand readiness activities and increase attention to defence production and investment.
The Secretary General also acknowledged the personal sacrifices associated with military service, particularly for personnel deployed on missions, exercises and forward positions during the holiday period.
The message closed the year by emphasizing that NATO’s political commitments depend on forces that are trained, available and prepared to act when required. Rutte presented Allied troops as central to keeping NATO’s one billion citizens secure.