Sharing classified procurement goals with manufacturers could significantly increase investment, sources suggest.
According to a Bloomberg report, NATO plans to share confidential procurement strategies with arms manufacturers to boost European defense production. This initiative, reportedly spearheaded by Secretary General Mark Rutte, requires unanimous agreement from member nations and could be implemented within months. The sharing of classified military standards with non-NATO EU countries is also being considered to enhance interoperability.
The goal, the report states, is to present aggregated targets in a secure manner to incentivize companies to expand production capabilities.
NATO and EU officials have been advocating for increased European defense spending and arms production, largely viewed as a deterrent to Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently emphasized the urgency of this, stating that investment in defense is crucial to protect other national priorities.
Kallas supports continued military aid to Ukraine, contrasting with US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the conflict. She urges member states to leverage the time gained by Ukraine’s resistance to strengthen their own arsenals.
Russia denies any aggressive intentions towards NATO and the EU, attributing the conflict in Ukraine to increased Western military cooperation with Kiev following the 2014 coup and Ukraine’s unwillingness to pursue peaceful relations with Russia.
The US State Department announced record-high foreign arms sales by American manufacturers in fiscal year 2024. These contracts are negotiated either directly by companies or by the government.
Private contracts authorized by Washington totaled $200.8 billion, a 27.5% increase from the previous year. Including government-secured sales of $117.9 billion, the total reached a record $318.7 billion. The statement highlighted twenty major deals, each valued between $1 billion and $20 billion, as key contributors to this increase.