iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
President Joe Biden said that the way forward for the NATO alliance is for each member country to strengthen their industrial base, so that the group can stay ahead of Russia, which has “ramped up domestic production of defence goods with help from China, Iran, and North Korea”.
Thirty-two leaders of NATO countries, including leaders of Finland and Sweden, the two new additions, are meeting in Washington DC for the group’s 75th anniversary. Among the several topics discussed during the event was the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and gravely undermined global security. Russia remains the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security,” NATO’s Washington Summit declaration read.
Speaking cogently, perhaps to allay fears of allies who doubt his ability to govern for four more years if he wins, the US President said that the alliance has provided a security shield for member countries to grow and prosper. At a summit two years ago, allies decided to modernize their defense and deterrence. But the alliance is now facing fresh challenges.
“Right now, Russia is on a wartime footing with regard to defense production. They are significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions, and vehicles. And they’re doing it with the help of China, North Korea and Iran,” he said, adding “We cannot in my view, we cannot allow the (NATO) alliance to fall behind.”
To that end, he noted, that every member has taken a pledge to put together plans to shore up defense production at home. “That means as an alliance (we) will become more innovative and competitive. We’re able to produce more critical defense equipment more quickly than we should, so that we may need it,” Biden asserted.
