NATO Chief Calls on Europe to Ramp Up Arms Production
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – NATO’s secretary general called on Europe to increase its arms production to support Ukraine and prevent “potentially decades of confrontation” with Moscow, in an interview published by German media Saturday.
Ahead of a key meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels and the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war, Jens Stoltenberg insisted that “we need to reconstitute and expand our industrial base faster, to increase deliveries to Ukraine and refill our own stocks.”
“This means shifting from slow peacetime to high-tempo conflict production,” he told the German Sunday daily Welt am Sonntag, AFP reported.
Stoltenberg’s comments came amidst growing pleas for shells, ammunition and other military aide from Ukraine as it battles Russian forces into a third year.
Western leaders have also called for greater assistance. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden urged US lawmakers Friday to approve a long-delayed military aid package for Ukraine.
“The failure of the United States’ Congress in not supporting Ukraine is close to criminal neglect,” Biden said as he hosted Scholz in the Oval Office on Friday.
Stoltenberg said: “There is no imminent military threat against any ally. At the same time, we hear regular threats from the Kremlin against NATO countries.”
The Russia-Ukraine war has shown that “peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted,” the NATO chief said, emphasizing the importance of protecting countries in the alliance.
“NATO does not seek war with Russia, but we need to brace ourselves for potentially decades of confrontation,” he added.
“We monitor closely what Russia does and we have increased our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” Stoltenberg said.
NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels on February 15, one week ahead of the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. A meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will be a key feature of the talks.