Outgoing NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that member states are to increase military spending and boost weapons production capabilities in order to strengthen the alliance.
Speaking at the NATO 2024 summit in Washington D.C., the alliance chief said that NATO’s core tasks were deterrence and defense and that NATO would be spending more and spending better.
He said: “With deterrence, there will be no attacks against NATO allies.
“NATO is the most successful alliance in history because we support each other and we can adapt.”
Announcing a new contract for member countries to produce Stinger anti-aircraft missiles worth nearly $700 million (approximately €647.5 million), Stoltenberg said: “There is no way to provide strong defense without a strong defense industry.”
He added that 23 Allies are now spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense but said that amount was the “minimum.”
He also said NATO leaders are set to agree on a defense industrial pledge that will help enable arms makers across Europe and North America to produce at scale.
The Secretary General went on to say that NATO would strengthen its support for Ukraine by providing at least €40 billion worth of security assistance and a new alliance military command in Germany.
His comments come on the heels of White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan who earlier told the summit: “Putin cannot divide us. He cannot outlast us. He cannot weaken us. And Ukraine, not Russia, will prevail.”
He said: “With deterrence, there will be no attacks against NATO allies.
“NATO is the most successful alliance in history because we support each other and we can adapt.”
Announcing a new contract for member countries to produce Stinger anti-aircraft missiles worth nearly $700 million (approximately €647.5 million), Stoltenberg said: “There is no way to provide strong defense without a strong defense industry.”
He added that 23 Allies are now spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense but said that amount was the “minimum.”
He also said NATO leaders are set to agree on a defense industrial pledge that will help enable arms makers across Europe and North America to produce at scale.
The Secretary General went on to say that NATO would strengthen its support for Ukraine by providing at least €40 billion worth of security assistance and a new alliance military command in Germany.
His comments come on the heels of White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan who earlier told the summit: “Putin cannot divide us. He cannot outlast us. He cannot weaken us. And Ukraine, not Russia, will prevail.”
Source: reuters
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