NATO aims for greater defence industry capacity

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said it is necessary to boost NATO's defence industry capabilities and ensure long-term support for Ukraine.

Caliber.Az reports, citing the NATO website, that NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană stressed the need for the alliance to revitalise the defence industry.

"Two years after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, it is absolutely imperative, both for Ukraine and for Euro-Atlantic security that we increase our defence production and revitalise our defence industries," the deputy secretary general said.

He added that some $10 billion worth of contracts, including for Patriot missiles and 155-millimetre shells, had been agreed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) since July last year.

"Allies have a single set of forces. So we need to ensure a complementary approach on defence industrial issues, that respects NATO’s competencies, for example in standard setting, and does not create barriers between Allies," Geoană said.