NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss logistics and ammunition for the war in Ukraine. The war effort is currently consuming ammunition at a rate many times greater than it’s being produced and it’s depleting stockpiles.
NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg gave a preview of the meeting’s priorities.
“The need to provide more ammunition and also how to ramp up production and strengthen our defense industry to be able to provide the necessary ammunition to Ukraine and also to replenish our own stocks,” Stoltenberg said.
As an example, the wait for large caliber ammunition has increased from 12 to 28 months. Stoltenberg said NATO allies need to ramp up and invest in production capacity.
On Capitol Hill, senators said while the U.S is well ahead of adversaries, both the U.S. and Europe need to step up capability.
“Clearly our industrial complex is challenged. We have workforce challenges, we have uncertainty going forward in terms of adequate supplies, supply chain,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said.
“This is a challenge facing both sides. I’m only concerned about the Ukrainian situation and we want to do everything that we can to help them. So we should enlist American manufacturers and NATO manufacturers to deliver this ammunition as quickly as possible,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States will continue giving Ukraine as much ammunition as quickly as possible to keep up the fight. He added the military is training Ukrainian soldiers throughout Europe on maneuvering tactics.
“So that as they place more emphasis on maneuver and shaping the battlefield with fires and then maneuvering, there’s a good chance that they’ll require less artillery and munitions but that’s left to be seen,” Austin said.
According to Austin, Ukraine is working to establish momentum on the battlefield and will try to start an offensive this spring.
