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NATO Overtakes Russia in Ammunition Production: ‘We Are Turning the Tide,’ Rutte Says NATO has now overtaken Russia in ammunition production, Secretary General Mark Rutte said, warning that Moscow will remain a long-term threat.
by Kateryna Zakharchenko |
NATO has overtaken Russia in ammunition production after years of lagging behind,
Secretary General Mark Rutte said at a NATO industry forum in Bucharest on Thursday, Nov.6.
Until recently, Russia was producing more ammunition than all NATO members combined, Rutte said, noting that this dynamic has now reversed as Allies open “dozens of new production lines” and accelerate deliveries across the defense sector.
“We are already turning the tide on ammunition,” Rutte told industry leaders, emphasizing that NATO states are now manufacturing “more than we have done in decades.”
He stressed that increased output, faster delivery times, and long-term investment remain essential as the Alliance prepares for prolonged strategic competition.
The Secretary General warned that the security environment facing NATO is “real and lasting,” with Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine representing the clearest example of the threat.
“Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine is the most obvious example of the threat,” he said. “But the danger posed by Russia will not end when this war does. For the foreseeable future, Russia will remain a destabilizing force in Europe and the world.”
Rutte also highlighted growing defense-industrial cooperation among Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and other authoritarian states, describing it as “unprecedented” and aimed at preparing for long-term confrontation.
He underscored that NATO’s recent decisions — including the commitment by Allied leaders to invest 5% of GDP in defense by 2035 — require close coordination with manufacturers.
“There simply is no strong defense without a strong defense industry,” he said, calling industry an essential component of NATO’s deterrence and defense posture.
Rutte outlined three priorities for maintaining the Alliance’s edge: greater production, innovation, and deeper cooperation with partners, including the European Union, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific democracies.
Dangerous times, he said, require “bold action” and readiness from both governments and companies to take risks.
“The political will is there, the money is there, the demand is there, and our security depends on it,” he told executives, urging them to expand production rather than fear potential future surplus capacity.
Rutte said he is confident Alliance members and their industrial partners have the ability “to outgun, out-produce, and outsmart” those seeking to weaken NATO.
kyivpost.com |
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