ANKARA, July 6 (Reuters) - European NATO allies and Canada have already increased their overall defence spending to around 4% of their gross domestic product, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday.

"Last year, European Allies and Canada spent nearly 20% more on core defence than they had the year before. Looking at 2025 and 2026 combined, that's $258 billion dollars in extra investment," Rutte told reporters on the eve of a summit of NATO leaders in Ankara.

"And the trend continues."

At their summit last year, NATO countries agreed to increase overall defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with 3.5% for core defence investments and ​a further 1.5% of GDP on security-related items.

"Here in Ankara, I expect nations to present clear, concrete and credible plans to reach that 5% goal. And the evidence we see so far is impressive," Rutte said.

"Just one year into a 10-year project, we see that European Allies and Canada are already investing around 4% of their GDP in defence and security."

Rutte also said NATO countries will announce "tens of billions of dollars in new contracts" at a forum with defence industry on Tuesday.