Stoltenberg wants to persuade NATO countries to spend more on defense

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Monday at a press conference in Brussels that he wanted to persuade Germany and other Alliance countries to spend more on defense.

"Higher spending together would strengthen the commitment to mutual defense and contribute to a fairer distribution of costs," he added, outlining the highlights of the Alliance Defense Ministers' online meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

Additional funds – according to Stoltenberg – could be allocated to the stationing of troops on NATO's eastern flank, airspace patrolling, and military maneuvers.

Moreover, the secretary-general wants to propose the introduction of specific requirements concerning the minimum standards of defense capabilities of NATO countries. In addition, he would also like more frequent consultations to coordinate the activities of the 30 Alliance countries at the political level.

When asked about the timing of NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan, Stoltenberg said it depended on the scale of the violence in the country.

(PAP)