(L-R) Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General; Luc Frieden, Luxembourg Prime Minister; Yuriko Backes, Luxembourg Minister of Defence;
Credit: SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
On Tuesday 2 September 2025, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte undertook a working visit to Luxembourg and met with Prime Minister Luc Frieden to discuss security issues and Luxembourg’s contribution to the NATO alliance.
As reported by Luxembourg’s Ministry of State, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Prime Minister Frieden welcomed Mark Rutte at the Hôtel Saint-Maximin (Ministry of State) in Luxembourg-Ville, where they held a one-to-one meeting.
According to the ministry, the focus of the meeting was primarily on major issues in the international security environment, including support for Ukraine, strengthening NATO’s capabilities and Luxembourg’s contribution to the Alliance’s collective deterrence and defence efforts.
This was followed by a working session attended by Luxembourg’s Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes.
Prime Minister Frieden, Minister Backes and Mark Rutte then continued their discussions over a working lunch at Senningen Castle, hosted by the Luxembourg Government in honour of the NATO Secretary General.
Mark Rutte also met with Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace and Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies.
In addition, Mr Rutte was accompanied by Minister Backes on a visit to the SES headquarters in Betzdorf, where they met with SES Chief Executive Officer Adel Al Saleh and LuxGovSat Director Patrick Biewer.
The visit of the NATO Secretary General to Luxembourg concluded with a tour of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in Capellen.
