Rutte calls on NATO countries to stop buying weapons outside the alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that member states should more actively purchase weapons within the alliance and expand their own military production.

According to Rutte, a number of NATO members are buying weapons from countries outside the bloc. He cited Romania, Poland, and Estonia as examples, noting that they purchase military equipment from South Korea.

The secretary general clarified that South Korea is a NATO partner, but said that, in his view, alliance members’ funds would be better directed toward procurement within the bloc.

Rutte also called on NATO members to expand their own military production in order to strengthen the alliance’s defense capabilities through internal resources.