During this week’s meeting in Brussels, defense ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are analyzing an action plan of a billion dollars (almost as much in euros) in joint procurement of ammunition.
The announcement was made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who indicated at a press conference in Brussels today ahead of this ministerial meeting that waiting “that the defense ministers analyze a new defense production action plan, which the leaders will agree on at the Vilnius summit”, scheduled for July.
“This plan is designed to quickly address deficiencies in our capabilities, based on a billion dollars [920 mil euros] in joint procurement for 155mm ammunition only, currently ongoing this year”gave up.
According to Jens Stoltenberg, the plan is “also aims to improve the interoperability of our munitions and equipment and to support the transatlantic defense and industrial base”.
This ministerial meeting, which will take place in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, in which Portugal will be represented by the responsible minister, Helena Carreiras, will also pursue “the long-standing commitment to the transatlantic defense industry”.
“We have invited small, medium and large defense manufacturers from across the Alliance to an informal event that will allow defense ministers to talk directly with industry about how best to increase production, protect our supply chains and remove barriers to collaboration. to take.”said Jens Stoltenberg.
Ukraine and the EU will also participate in the event.
Strengthening defense investment will be one of the topics on the table at the NATO summit in July, which will take place in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
“This commitment should make it clear that 2% of GDP will be invested [produto interno bruto] in its defense, it is not a text to be reached, but a foundation on which to build,” he concluded.
The Vilnius Summit will bring together the heads of government and state of the current 31 Allies (after Finland’s integration last April) who will decide on new measures to strengthen deterrence and defense, and to maintain support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion. started in February 2022.
This week’s meeting in Brussels will also discuss a new NATO Maritime Center for Critical Security Infrastructure, after work began nearly 10 years ago in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Source: DN
