02:11Mandatory credit: NATO TV
US President Joe Biden warned allies that NATO must 'strengthen its industrial base', claiming the bloc cannot be allowed to 'fall behind' with Russia on a 'wartime footing' while hosting the 75th
NATO Summit in Washington DC on Wednesday.
"Today, we have to ask ourselves: What is next? How can we keep making the shield stronger?" Biden said. "Russia is on a wartime footing with regard to defence production."
"They're significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions, and vehicles. And they're doing it with the help of China, North Korea, and Iran. In my view, we cannot allow the alliance to fall behind."
Despite his warnings, Biden said that NATO is now 'stronger than we've ever been' hailing the accession of Finland and Sweden into the alliance. "Since I took office, we've doubled the number of battle groups at NATO's eastern flank," he added.
The US president spoke alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who stated the alliance would make vital decisions for 'future security' as members prepared for two days of extensive multilateral discussions.
"Twenty-three allies now meet the target of spending 2% of spending of GDP on defence, up from just three allies in 2014 when we made the pledge to invest more in defence," Stoltenberg said.
"We will increase our support for Ukraine by establishing a NATO coordination and security assistance and training for Ukraine and by ensuring a sustained support for the long term," he continued.
Stoltenberg also stated that NATO will 'reinforce' its efforts in the Indo-Pacific "to push against the growing alignment of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea."
The 75th NATO Summit in DC began on Tuesday and continues until July 11. According to media reports, Kiev is expected to be told it is 'too corrupt' to join the alliance at the current time, while there is also set to be opposition to Stoltenberg's plan for a 'multi-year' military funding package for Ukraine - widely seen as a way to negate the impact of a potential Trump presidency.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional military funding while Russia has accused NATO of escalating the conflict - and has also blamed alliance expansionism for triggering the crisis, which NATO and Kiev have denied.
'How can we keep making the shield stronger?' - Biden urges NATO allies to 'strengthen industrial base'
US President Joe Biden warned allies that NATO must 'strengthen its industrial base', claiming the bloc cannot be allowed to 'fall behind' with Russia on a 'wartime footing' while hosting the 75th
NATO Summit in Washington DC on Wednesday.
"Today, we have to ask ourselves: What is next? How can we keep making the shield stronger?" Biden said. "Russia is on a wartime footing with regard to defence production."
"They're significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions, and vehicles. And they're doing it with the help of China, North Korea, and Iran. In my view, we cannot allow the alliance to fall behind."
Despite his warnings, Biden said that NATO is now 'stronger than we've ever been' hailing the accession of Finland and Sweden into the alliance. "Since I took office, we've doubled the number of battle groups at NATO's eastern flank," he added.
The US president spoke alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who stated the alliance would make vital decisions for 'future security' as members prepared for two days of extensive multilateral discussions.
"Twenty-three allies now meet the target of spending 2% of spending of GDP on defence, up from just three allies in 2014 when we made the pledge to invest more in defence," Stoltenberg said.
"We will increase our support for Ukraine by establishing a NATO coordination and security assistance and training for Ukraine and by ensuring a sustained support for the long term," he continued.
Stoltenberg also stated that NATO will 'reinforce' its efforts in the Indo-Pacific "to push against the growing alignment of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea."
The 75th NATO Summit in DC began on Tuesday and continues until July 11. According to media reports, Kiev is expected to be told it is 'too corrupt' to join the alliance at the current time, while there is also set to be opposition to Stoltenberg's plan for a 'multi-year' military funding package for Ukraine - widely seen as a way to negate the impact of a potential Trump presidency.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional military funding while Russia has accused NATO of escalating the conflict - and has also blamed alliance expansionism for triggering the crisis, which NATO and Kiev have denied.
Mandatory credit: NATO TV
US President Joe Biden warned allies that NATO must 'strengthen its industrial base', claiming the bloc cannot be allowed to 'fall behind' with Russia on a 'wartime footing' while hosting the 75th
NATO Summit in Washington DC on Wednesday.
"Today, we have to ask ourselves: What is next? How can we keep making the shield stronger?" Biden said. "Russia is on a wartime footing with regard to defence production."
"They're significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions, and vehicles. And they're doing it with the help of China, North Korea, and Iran. In my view, we cannot allow the alliance to fall behind."
Despite his warnings, Biden said that NATO is now 'stronger than we've ever been' hailing the accession of Finland and Sweden into the alliance. "Since I took office, we've doubled the number of battle groups at NATO's eastern flank," he added.
The US president spoke alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who stated the alliance would make vital decisions for 'future security' as members prepared for two days of extensive multilateral discussions.
"Twenty-three allies now meet the target of spending 2% of spending of GDP on defence, up from just three allies in 2014 when we made the pledge to invest more in defence," Stoltenberg said.
"We will increase our support for Ukraine by establishing a NATO coordination and security assistance and training for Ukraine and by ensuring a sustained support for the long term," he continued.
Stoltenberg also stated that NATO will 'reinforce' its efforts in the Indo-Pacific "to push against the growing alignment of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea."
The 75th NATO Summit in DC began on Tuesday and continues until July 11. According to media reports, Kiev is expected to be told it is 'too corrupt' to join the alliance at the current time, while there is also set to be opposition to Stoltenberg's plan for a 'multi-year' military funding package for Ukraine - widely seen as a way to negate the impact of a potential Trump presidency.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for additional military funding while Russia has accused NATO of escalating the conflict - and has also blamed alliance expansionism for triggering the crisis, which NATO and Kiev have denied.