Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the meetings of NATO Ministers of Defence, 15 February 2022.

🗣 | NATO Secretary General:

Good afternoon.

NATO Defence Ministers have met to address key issues for our security.

This includes stepping up our support for Ukraine;
strengthening our deterrence and defence, with the right forces, capabilities and stockpiles;
and protecting our critical infrastructure, by strengthening our military planning and our cooperation with industry.

It is almost one year since Russia launched its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine.
The biggest conflict in Europe since World War Two.

And we see no signs that Russia is preparing for peace.
On the contrary, Russia is launching new offensives.

Yesterday, Defence Minister Reznikov updated NATO Ministers on the situation, and Ukraine’s most urgent needs.

I welcome the new pledges of support made by NATO Allies.
Including more heavy weapons and military training.

This is critical.
Ukraine has a window of opportunity to tip the balance.
And time is of the essence.

I want to thank Allies for their significant contributions, including to NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package.

This is providing Ukraine with food, fuel, medical supplies, counter drone systems and amphibious bridges.

Ministers also discussed our commitment to our other partners at risk, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Moldova.
And we agreed to step up tailored support to enhance their defence capabilities, resilience, and interoperability with NATO.


Today, Allies took steps to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence.

Since our historic Madrid Summit, we have been making good progress.
Boosting our forward defences.
And upgrading our readiness and defence plans.

Allies agreed new guidance for NATO’s defence planning.
This reflects the reality that we live in a more dangerous world.
With Russia’s aggressive behaviour, the persistent threat of terrorism, and the challenges posed by China.
NATO’s defence planning will drive capability changes for the years to come.
And ensure that our deterrence and defence remain strong and credible.

Ministers also addressed ways to boost industrial capacity and replenish stockpiles of armaments and munitions.

NATO Allies are providing unprecedented support to help Ukraine push back against Russia’s aggression.
At the same time, this is consuming an enormous quantity of Allied ammunition, and depleting our stockpiles.

Allies agree on the need to work hand-in-hand with the defence industry to ramp up our industrial capacity.

We are ready and we are reviewing NATO capability targets for munition stockpiles.
And I welcome the important multinational projects agreed by Allies today.


These include a project on ammunition warehousing,
which will support the pre-positioning and stockpiling of Allied ammunition.
As well as a project on ground-based air defence.

Today, Ministers also addressed the security of critical undersea infrastructure.
The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines has reminded us all of the vulnerabilities we face.

Ministers tasked the NATO military authorities to provide advice on what more we should do.
Including through better coordination and cooperation with the private sector.

And I am standing up a Critical Undersea Infrastructure Coordination Cell here at the NATO Headquarters.
Led by Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Wiermann, a highly respected former German military officer.

It will facilitate engagement with industry, and bring key military and civilian stakeholders together.
To share best practices.
Leverage innovative technologies.
And boost the security of our undersea infrastructure.

At our Summit in Vilnius, leaders will take further decisions to ensure that NATO can effectively coordinate between military, civilian and private sector to secure our critical undersea infrastructure.

As we continue to adapt our Alliance, we need to have the right resources.
So Ministers also discussed the importance of investing in defence.

More countries are now spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence.
And 2022 was the eighth consecutive year of increased defence spending by European Allies and Canada.
With an additional investment of 350 billion dollars.

More: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_211742.htm


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