NATO Secretary -General Mark Rutte at the Summit in Prague drew attention to the need to increase defense budgets and stressed the need to strengthen the Alliance’s capacity.
NATO Secretary -General Mark Rutte at the Prague Defense Summit on Thursday stressed the need to increase budgets for defense and production of key technology – from artillery ammunition through air defense systems to drones. Russia has described as an aggressor that currently produces more ammunition than all Member States of the Alliance together, TASR reports according to the Novinky.cz server report.
“The summit has long maintained a good reputation in the assessment of military capacity. I am here to talk about European military possibilities and what Europe needs today and in the future,” Rutte said at the beginning of the summit. In his words, Russia has gone to the military economy and production and therefore Europe and the whole Alliance must take the necessary steps.
Increase defensive capacities
“It is clear that the current capacities are insufficient. We are facing serious threats. Russia and China produce weapons at a great pace. It is not a demonstration at military searches, but a real power of force. Russia is currently investing about 40 percent of its budget. Europe ready, ”Rutte said.
NATO’s head reminded the increase in defense budgets and improve air defense. “NATO has an ambitious and clearly defined plan … We need to refund the skills in the area of missile defense, artillery and production of large -calibrum ammunition. The good news is that there are considerable funds on the table and others are increasing.
Support and Unity of the Alliance
Rutte thanked the Czech Republic for the support and ammunition initiative for Ukraine. In his words, Russia is an aggressor and a threat, and therefore it is necessary to increase investment in defense, writes novinky.cz.
He also responded to the declaration of a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zacharovova. She stated that Russia would not accept the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire under security guarantees. “Why we are interested in what Russia thinks of soldiers in Ukraine? It is a sovereign country. It is not up to them to make decisions,” Rutte said according to AFP. “Our biggest advantage is the unity of Europe and the United States. It is in this unity that our strength is. We will ensure peace through power,” he said.
