NATO ministers to update rules on defense planning amid ‘Europe’s biggest security crisis’

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – NATO defense ministers are expected to update rules on defense planning as the 30-nation military alliance faces “the biggest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War,” Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday.

In his speech opening to the second day of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting, Stoltenberg pledged solidarity with Ukraine but stressed that the military alliance should keep strengthening its own capabilities.

The defense ministers will approve new political guidance on defense planning, which will be a “key driver of change for the next few years to ensure we have the capabilities necessary for credible deterrence and defense,” he asserted.

The ministers will also discuss plans on ramping up military production and strengthening the defense industry in member countries since stockpiles of ammunition and arms are depleting as NATO sends support to Ukraine.

They will also go over how to protect NATO's “critical infrastructure, including undersea cables and pipelines,” as well as how to boost defense spending, Stoltenberg added.

On the first day of the meeting, ministers discussed the alliance’s support for Ukraine with their counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.​​​​​​​