Title: “Western Countries Running Low on Weapons for Ukraine, Urgent Action Needed”
Score: 85
In a speech at the Warsaw Security Forum, NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer revealed that Western states have nearly depleted their stockpiles of weapons intended for delivery to Ukraine. According to TASS, Admiral Bauer stated that the Alliance countries had begun increasing funding for the defense sector seven years prior to the start of the Ukrainian conflict. However, he noted that production capacities in this field did not increase.
“We are providing weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, but our warehouses are not filled. We started deliveries from semi-empty… warehouses in Europe. Now, the bottom of the barrel is becoming visible,” emphasized Bauer. In light of this, he called on the United States and its allies to take measures to ramp up the production of military equipment. Additionally, the Admiral highlighted the need to modernize the economies of Western countries, considering the ongoing arms deliveries to the conflict zone.
On October 3, the NATO Military Committee Chairman announced that member states had begun preparing to counter Russia as early as 2008. It was during this time that the Alliance leadership decided to reintroduce the concept of “collective defense” in allied countries. At the same time, Bauer acknowledged that Moscow had been a NATO partner for over 15 years. However, conflicts between Georgia and South Ossetia emerged, Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, and a special operation began in Ukraine in 2022.
Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg assessed the possibility of further assistance to Ukraine from Poland and Slovakia. Prompt action is crucial to address the dwindling supply of weapons and ensure the security of Ukraine in the face of escalating tensions.
