NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defended the increase in defense spending in Brussels this Thursday and has now set a deadline for reaching “the minimum level” of 2% of GDP.
Stoltenberg expects “a stronger commitment” from NATO member governments, recalling that the reference that has been in place for defense spending until now came about in a different context, which is no longer the case today.
“In 2014, we enacted what we call the Wales commitment, where we said to spend 2% of GDP on defense within 10 years,” NATO’s secretary-general recalled, referring to the current circumstances. “this decade is almost over”
“The world has become much more dangerous, with all-out war in Europe, but also with other threats and challenges,” says Jens Stoltenberg, asked by TSF/DN if he “expects that above the 2% minimum, at some point sets a new, higher ceiling for military expenditure.
“I hope that when the leaders meet in Vilnius next month, they will agree on a stronger commitment, a lasting commitment and a commitment that should take effect immediately, in less than ten years,” replied the secretary-general of NATO. at the entrance of the Defense Ministerial Assembly.
For that reason, he understands that the 2% of GDP reference should now be seen in a different way: “2% of GDP for defense is not a kind of ceiling, but a minimum level that we have to reach, but it is clear that this an ongoing consultation between the Allies”.
The meeting, attended by Minister Helena Carreiras, aims “to prepare for the Vilnius Summit”, in which “the exact language” of one of the central aspects will be refined, namely “the issue of strengthening the commitment to more to invest in defense”, detailed Stoltenberg.
Sweden in NATO?
A few weeks before the summit, at which the 32nd member of the Atlantic Alliance is expected to join, expectations are at a minimum after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said NATO should not count on Ankara’s assent for Sweden to join.
The Turkish president’s statements came on the day that representatives from NATO, Sweden, Finland and Turkey met in Ankara to assess the status of the negotiations.
But Turkey believes that Sweden has not considered all the security issues mentioned by Ankara. However, NATO’s Secretary General says he is confident that it will be possible to include Sweden in the alliance in the course of next month.
“It is possible that Sweden will be a member of NATO until the Vilnius Summit. I cannot guarantee that will happen, but I am still working hard to secure Swedish membership as soon as possible,” said Stoltenberg, who said that Sweden has delivered on what it promised. concerned.
“Sweden has fulfilled the commitments it made last year at the Madrid Summit, such as lifting restrictions on arms exports, strengthening cooperation with Turkey in the fight against terrorism. Sweden has amended the constitution and strengthened anti-terrorism legislation” , the statement said.
Source: DN
