NATO General Secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, stated in an interview with the "Welt" newspaper that it is necessary to develop the defense industry because containment measures are only effective "if they are credible."
"NATO is not seeking war with Russia, but we must prepare for a confrontation that could last for decades," the secretary general said.
Stoltenberg stressed that currently, the best defense is to support Ukraine and invest in the alliance's military capabilities.
"We need to rebuild and expand our industrial base faster so that we can increase supplies to Ukraine and replenish our stocks," Stoltenberg said.
The general secretary explained that this implies a shift to the mobilization of production needed in times of conflict. Stoltenberg called for an acceleration of orders for European defense companies and stressed that in a market economy, arms manufacturers need guaranteed contracts to expand production.
The general secretary warned Putin is preparing Russia's economy for a long conflict, so the West must take additional measures to ensure security.
Stoltenberg commented on the processes related to the aid package for Ukraine in the US Congress, expressing hope for its approval. He emphasized that there is "transatlantic burden sharing" in the context of the aggressive war against Ukraine.
