NATO has surpassed Russia on key defense target, Mark Rutte says

Ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has discussed how to respond.

Weapons and aid have been pouring into Ukraine in an effort to help the war-torn country fight off the aggressor, but after nearly four years of war, fears of an open conflict between Russia and NATO have grown.

Concerns have deepened further as suspected Russian drones have repeatedly violated NATO airspace in Europe.

One of the biggest worries has been that Russia appeared to be outproducing the entire NATO alliance in terms of ammunition — but now, the tables have turned.

Russia ahead no more

At the NATO-Industry Forum in Bucharest on November 6, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Russia has lost its edge in ammunition production, according to a transcript of the speech published on NATO’s website.

“Until recently, Russia was producing more ammunition than all NATO Allies put together. But not anymore,” he told delegates, according to the transcript.

He credited the reversal to a surge in defense manufacturing across member states, stating that dozens of new production lines have opened across the alliance and that existing capacities have been expanded.

“In fact, NATO is now producing more than the alliance has done in decades,” he said.

Staying ahead

In June, Business Insider quoted Rutte as saying that, at the time, Russia produced as much ammunition in three months as the entire NATO bloc did in a year.

Calling for continued momentum, Rutte urged NATO members to ensure the alliance remains superior in capability and innovation.

“We must outgun, outproduce, and outsmart those that seek to harm or diminish us,” he said.

During an earlier visit to Germany, Rutte noted that European shell production had expanded sixfold over the past two years, with output projected to reach two million rounds by the end of this year.

Persistent Russian threat

But even though NATO is now outproducing Russia in ammunition, it is not the time to sit back and take that as a victory, Rutte warned.

“The danger posed by Russia will not end when this war does,” he said, according to the transcript.

He also pointed to increasing military cooperation between Russia and other nations like China, Iran, and North Korea.

“They are preparing for long-term confrontation,” Rutte cautioned.

Staying ahead

Calling for continued momentum, Rutte urged NATO members to ensure the alliance remains superior in capability and innovation.

During an earlier visit to Germany, Rutte noted that European shell production had expanded sixfold over the past two years, with output projected to reach two million rounds by the end of this year.

This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation