NATO Secretary General: European Military Purchases Support Nearly 200,000 Jobs in the U.S.

Reference News Network reported on July 4 According to a report by the Financial Times website on June 30, NATO's top officials stated that the rearmament plans in Europe and Canada, through $300 billion in weapon orders, have sustained 195,000 defense jobs in the United States. This statement, made ahead of the NATO summit, aims to persuade U.S. President Trump from an economic perspective to continue honoring his commitments to the alliance.

The report noted that the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, along with Trump's demand for Europe to increase military spending or risk losing U.S. military protection, has collectively spurred a surge in defense spending among European countries. Meanwhile, Trump's erratic attitude towards NATO has also made many European nations concerned about relying on Washington for their security.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed appreciation for Europe's significant purchases of U.S. weapons in an interview with the Financial Times, believing that this move can both revitalize long-neglected military forces and support Ukraine.

Stoltenberg stated, "In the coming years, the total amount of weapons ordered by Europe and Canada from the U.S. will reach $300 billion," which will support nearly 200,000 jobs in the U.S.

However, he also urged arms manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic to take advantage of the $250 billion increase in military spending over the past few years to accelerate production rather than raise prices.

Stoltenberg said, "Countries' arms procurement can only rely on existing defense industrial capacity, which has a limit to its absorption capability. I believe that this $250 billion has reached the maximum digestible limit of capacity. So this is a huge success."

He added, "This shows the American people and the U.S. President that Europe and Canada are stepping up their efforts. Moreover, we continue to maintain our support for Ukraine, and it remains at a high level."

U.S. officials have warned European countries that due to the impact of the conflict with Iran, U.S. weapon stockpiles are being rapidly depleted, and military industrial capacity is prioritized for Gulf allies, leading to serious delays in the delivery of weapons ordered by Europe.

"For certain critical capabilities... or equipment of equivalent standards, Europe can basically only obtain them from the U.S.," Stoltenberg said, "Europe has a strong defense industrial base and is ramping up production, but the U.S. defense industrial base remains crucial for NATO's overall deterrence."

"However... there are issues with capacity. This is a problem in both Europe and the U.S.," he added, "The good news is that additional production lines and shifts are being built... (weapons manufacturers) have received a clear signal: the defense concepts of various countries have already changed, funding and budgets are all in place, and manufacturers should not take the opportunity to raise prices, but should expand capacity." (Translated by Wang Diqing)