The first day of the meeting of NATO defense ministers has ended in Brussels. The main topic was preparations for the upcoming Alliance summit, which will be held on July 6-7 in Ankara. This is reported by Novini.LIVE with reference to a source from the scene, the PromPolitInform portal reports.
The allies discussed increasing defense spending, the role of the United States and support for Ukraine
During the meeting, the allies focused on two key issues – increasing defense spending and the role of the United States in the NATO collective security system.
One of the main topics was the discussion of increasing defense spending of the Alliance member countries to 5% of GDP. According to preliminary plans, the allies should achieve this indicator by 2035, but NATO leadership calls for accelerating this process.
Separately, the meeting participants discussed the role of the United States in the collective security system. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the American military presence in Europe is not decreasing, and the United States remains a key partner of the Alliance.
The allies paid considerable attention to Ukraine. The meeting participants discussed further military assistance, as well as the development of cooperation in the field of defense technologies.
Separately, the Ukrainian experience of countering drones was noted, which, according to NATO, is one of the most effective in modern warfare.
On Thursday, negotiations at NATO headquarters will continue. The next meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format will also be held.
