Secretary General Of Rutte Says NATO Is Increasing Weapons Production And Air Defense System

JAKARTA - Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the alliance was increasing arms production and air defense systems under a new $2.2 billion military support program led by the United States to Ukraine, as well as strengthening measures to protect NATO airspace amid the increasing threat of drones.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Belgium, Secretary General Rutte said allies "enhanced production of the defense industry to ensure Ukraine is as strong as possible and remains in fighting."

Secretary General Rutter said ministers would also discuss recent drone incidents and measures to strengthen NATO air defenses.

"This will be an important day," he said, quoted from Anadolu, October 15.

He explained this meeting would include a NATO-Ukraine Council session with Ukraine's Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and Ukraine's Defense Contact Group, chaired by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius with John Healey of Britain.

On this occasion, Secretary General Rutte highlighted a new US-led program launched in August, in which allies have committed to providing Kyiv with deadly and non-lethal military aid worth US$2.2 billion.

"This includes an air defense system and interceptors, which are crucial to protect the civilian population and Ukraine's infrastructure from Russia's persistent intense attacks," he said.

He stressed that the European Union and NATO are working closely together, saying "there are no duplications of effort."

"This combination is crucial, and Russia has not succeeded in dividing us," he said.

Regarding violations of Russian airspace, he underlined that NATO remains fully capable of defending allied territory.

"If a Russian plane enters NATO airspace and poses a threat, we will act. Otherwise, the plane will be escorted out. A strong alliance knows when to act decisively and when to defuse tensions," he stressed.

He added that NATO continues to learn from Ukraine's experience on the battlefield and adapts new technologies in drone defenses.

"We've been doing this for 60 or 70 years, we're doing it with the Soviets, and we're continuing to do it with Russia," he said.

Rejecting claims that allied military aid had declined, Secretary General Rutte said the level of aid remained stable compared to last year.

"Russia thought they would win this war in three weeks. Now, nearly four years later, they have lost 1 million people, died or were seriously injured, and have only acquired a few areas," he said.