UPDATE - NATO chief welcomes EU Council's approval of new aid package to Ukraine, waits US to ‘follow suit’

ADDS MORE REMARKS BY NATO CHIEF

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday welcomed the European Council’s approval of a new aid package to Ukraine, expecting the US to follow it.

“I welcome that the European Council has approved an important new package of aid to Ukraine. And I expect the US to follow suit. This is vital,” Stoltenberg told a news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as part of the Munich Security Conference.

Stoltenberg urged NATO allies to persist in providing Ukraine with weapons and ammunition for a “lasting peace.”

“This requires expanding our transatlantic industrial base to increase deliveries to Ukraine and refill our own stops and shifting from slow peacetime to the high tempo of conflict to produce more at the highest speed,” Stoltenberg said.

He added that this action will benefit Ukraine, strengthen NATO, and generate additional high-skilled manufacturing opportunities, particularly in Bavaria, where the new facility will be responsible for constructing Patriot missiles.

“This is another example of European and North American companies working together for our shared security,” Stoltenberg said.

He said there is currently no “imminent military threat” against any NATO member, adding: “NATO continues to ensure there's no room for miscalculation and must go about our readiness to protect all allies with more forces higher readiness and increased defense spending.”

An unprecedented actual rise of 11% was seen in defense spending among European allies and Canada last year, he said.

Stoltenberg noted that he anticipates 18 NATO allies to be committed to achieving the goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense.

"A strong NATO is good for Europe and for North America. Together we are half of the world's economic and military minds together with the term conflict and preserve this,” he added.

Stoltenberg also welcomed Germany being part of that group, and its commitment to maintaining a permanently stationed brigade, which will be a major contribution to NATO's deterrence and defense.