Stoltenberg: NATO countries need “huge stockpiles of weapons”

NATO needs huge stockpiles of weapons or large spare capacities to increase the production of weapons and ammunition. This was stated by Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at a forum of representatives of the Western military industry in Stockholm.

“We need either huge stockpiles of weapons or huge spare production capacity for rapid production and procurement,” he said (quote according to TASS).

Stoltenberg explained that NATO needs this “to ensure peace and freedom.”

October 24, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmygal stated about the shortage of ammunition not only in Ukraine, but throughout the world. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted, that the West’s potential in the production of ammunition is limited, so there are “certain points of tension.” “It takes a lot of time” to increase that potential, he said.

In July 2023, US President Joe Biden said that Ukraine does not have enough ammunition, but the US cannot yet cover this deficit. In this regard, Washington approved the transfer of cluster munitions to Kyiv. This decision was made as a “transition period” until the United States increases production of 155-mm shells for Ukraine.

In early October, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources in the Pentagon reportedthat the US Department of Defense has $5.2 billion in military materials to provide military assistance to Ukraine. Given the current volumes of aid, they will last for several months. Politico, citing sources in the Biden administration, also wrote about the serious depletion of European weapons stocks after 18 months of intense fighting in Ukraine.