Stoltenberg: accelerating the increase in defense spending

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg spoke at the joint press conference after meeting Prime Minister Antonio Costa in the garden of the Sao Bento Palace in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, where he paid an official visit.

Stating that “after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the world has become more dangerous, no country can face these challenges alone”, Stoltenberg said that allied countries must accelerate the increase in their defense spending.

The Secretary General stated that he anticipates that at the NATO Summit to be held in Lithuania on July 11 and 12, the leaders of the member states will agree on a commitment to allocate at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) ) to defense .

Stating that, according to the 2021 NATO report, 7 of the 30 member countries of the alliance (which became 31 with Finland) achieved the goal of spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense before the war between Ukraine and Russia, Stoltenberg said, expect the same. determination of the other countries.

Portuguese Prime Minister Costa also argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin “relived his first defeat by reviving the alliance” and stated that all NATO member countries will continue to act with the same determination until a just and lasting peace is achieved. in Ukraine. (AA)