NATO Secretary General announces boosting weapons and ammo production

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, has announced that the production of weapons and ammo will be expanded, same as investments into the defence sector in member countries as he spoke at a press-conference at NATO HQ in Brussels, attended by a reporter for Novaya-Europe.

He said that NATO is reviewing its capability targets for munition stockpiles. “Ministers [of Defence of NATO member states] addressed ways to boost industrial capacity and replenish stockpiles of armaments and munitions,” he stated.

Stoltenberg mentioned that the US and France have already signed respective contracts, while Germany and Norway have taken on obligations to do so.

The stepping up of 155 mm ammunition production has already been achieved.

Jens Stoltenberg also welcomed important multinational projects agreed by Allies today. These include a project on ammunition and warehousing, which will support the pre-positioning and stockpiling of ammunition, a project on ground-based air defence, and the security of critical undersea infrastructure.

More specifically, the Critical Undersea Infrastructure Coordination Cell at the NATO Headquarters will be led by Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Wiermann, a highly respected former German military officer.

Meanwhile, NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package is providing Ukraine with food, fuel, medical supplies, counter drone systems, and amphibious bridges, Stoltenberg stated.

Ministers also discussed the importance of investing in defence, how to build on the defence investment pledge, and future commitments beyond 2024.

“More countries are now spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence. And 2022 was the eighth consecutive year of increased defence spending by European Allies and Canada with an additional investment of $350 billion. This trend is expected to continue this year, but more needs to be done,” NATO Secretary General said.

Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defence, announced yesterday that Ukraine’s military is expected by NATO to start its offensive in the nearest spring. He also announced that eight countries would send tanks to Ukraine shortly, and that Norway would provide €7.5 billion in military and civilian supplies to Ukraine over the coming five years. Poland will send its Leopard tanks to Ukraine in March, the country’s MoD said.

The meeting of defence ministers of NATO states is taking place in Brussels on 14 and 15 February. Apart from representatives from NATO countries, defence ministers of Ukraine, Finland, and Sweden are also present.