NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the need to create a defense industry base throughout the Euro-Atlantic Region. Rutta said this at a joint press conference with the Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Mertz, who is in Brussels with his first official visit.
Rutte noted that Germany is a leading power in Europe, which makes a significant contribution to the collective security of NATO, as well as the largest European country that provides military assistance to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General also praised the steps of Mercke to increase the costs of the defense of his country.
“Such decisive actions are exactly what we need to create a stronger, fair and restraining NATO,” Rutte said, noting the importance of ensuring the safety of residents of the Euro -Atlantic region.
“That’s why we will work together to increase the costs of defense, as well as the development of defense -industrial potential on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.
According to Rutte, all these issues will be in the focus of NATO summit, which will be held in the Hague (Netherlands) on June 24-26.
“If we remain at the level of 2%, we will not be able to provide our protection. Therefore, we really will have to increase defense costs,” he said.
“In addition, we need to create a defense industry in the entire Euro – Atlantic region, including the USA and Canada, as well as in all European NATO countries. This is very important,” he emphasized.
Only Russia produces as many ammunition in three months as all NATO countries, whose volume of the economy is 25 times higher than Russian. We produce as many ammunition for the year as they produce in three months, ”he added.
Commenting on the possible membership of Ukraine in NATO, Rutta said that all NATO countries expressed their consent with the fact that Ukraine’s path to NATO is irreversible.
“But we never promised that Ukraine’s membership in NATO will become part of an agreement on a peaceful settlement. This agreement was never reached. However, in the long run, the NATO allies said” yes “, – said the Secretary General.