13.02.2023 22:52
(Akt. 13.02.2023 23:00)
Expansion of the weapon system on the tableau
©APA/AFP
The defense ministers of the 30 NATO countries are convening for a two-day meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. The topic will be the war in Ukraine and joint efforts by the western military alliance to expand stocks of weapons and ammunition. In addition, following the alleged acts of sabotage once morest the Nord Stream 1 and 2 natural gas pipelines, additional protection for critical infrastructure under water should be involved. This also includes data cables.
Even before the NATO meeting, the USA is organizing consultations of the so-called Ukraine contact group in the morning (10:00 a.m.). They coordinate arms deliveries to the country attacked by Russia. NATO is officially left out because non-allied countries are also part of the Contact Group. The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov is also expected. He should once more demand the delivery of fighter jets. No decisions are expected.
On Wednesday it should then be regarding strengthening the so-called east flank. It is planned to increase the number of soldiers on high operational readiness from 40,000 to 300,000. The meeting is overshadowed by the fact that Turkey is blocking the admission of the two Nordic countries Finland and Sweden to NATO. All 30 member countries must agree to an expansion of the alliance.