NATO chief welcomes UK-Germany defense pact

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) – NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday welcomed the new UK-Germany defense agreement, emphasizing that it will strengthen the military alliance's support for Ukraine's security.

"NATO will continue to step up our deterrence and defense and increase our support for Ukraine because Ukraine's security is our security," Rutte said during his visit to a NATO battle group in Estonia.

In light of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he emphasized the importance of NATO’s collective defense, saying, "This is not just about Estonia on the eastern flank. It’s about all of us together."

When asked by a reporter about the upcoming US presidential election, Rutte expressed confidence in NATO's relationship with Washington, saying, "We will work positively with whoever wins."

He added that both sides of the political spectrum in the US understand NATO's importance for global security.

Under the UK-Germany defense agreement, Rheinmetall, a German defense firm, will open a new factory in the UK to manufacture barrels for artillery guns, and the agreement will pave the way for both countries to collaborate on the development of drones and a new long-range missile.

Separately, German maritime surveillance aircraft will also periodically patrol the North Atlantic from Royal Air Force (RAF) Lossiemouth in Scotland.