As Washington reduces its engagement in the defense of Europe, NATO’s chief highlighted that its other member countries confirmed a plan to boost their defense capabilities.
Defense chiefs of NATO member nations met at the alliance’s headquarters in the Belgian capital Brussels on Thursday. They discussed issues such as the situation surrounding Iran and increases in defense expenditures.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke at a news conference after the meeting. He said a renewed push to “turbo-charge” transatlantic defense cooperation had been agreed.
Rutte added that NATO “is going through a massive transformation, probably the biggest transformation in its history.”
Afterwards, a meeting on military aid for Ukraine took place, attended by the country’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The president stated that Ukraine is short of unmanned ground vehicles and long-range artillery ammunition. He stressed that both are needed urgently.
Zelenskyy also explained that funding for those supplies and the amount produced in Europe are not enough.
During the meeting, Germany, the Netherlands and eight other nations pledged fresh financial contributions to a framework to purchase US-made weapons and other equipment for Ukraine.
Britain also announced its commitment to provide air defense missiles, radars and other supplies.