NATO plans to share some of its highly classified data with the defense industry to encourage member countries to increase weapons production.
The Alliance is developing a secure format for information exchange, which will require consensus among participants and could take several months.
At the same time, NATO has begun sharing classified military standards with the European Union to harmonize armed forces and enhance operational compatibility. These standards include things like weapon calibers or common military terminology. The EU will be able to adapt them for dual-use, such as in radio frequencies.
A NATO representative called the exchange of standards part of new defense plans, and EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius described it as “unprecedented” trust.
The initiative comes from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who, after taking office in October, has strengthened ties between NATO and the EU and urged European industry to ramp up production. Rutte and other leaders believe the current target of 2% defense spending is insufficient.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda stated that Lithuania plans to increase defense spending to 5-6% of GDP by 2026-2030.
