NATO Officials Emphasize the Need to Implement New Defense Plans by Year-End

During a meeting in Vilnius, NATO defense ministers agreed that the new regional defense plans established by the alliance should be implemented by the end of the year, reported the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

"The ministers have agreed to work together to ensure that the defense plans are executed by year-end," the ministry stated in a press release.

On Tuesday, during the NATO summit in Vilnius, the implementation of decisions made by the leaders of the member countries was discussed at the defense ministers' meeting.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had announced a significant enhancement of the alliance's defense capabilities, the strongest since the Cold War, just a day prior.

"Allies have confirmed the most valuable defense plan since the Cold War, to combat two main threats: Russia and terrorism," he stated in Vilnius during a press conference held after the first day of the NATO summit.

According to him, "in accordance with the new plans, 300,000 troops will be in a state of high readiness."

For the enhancement of deterrence and defense, the Secretary General continued, a joint plan for defense production has been agreed upon, "to ensure purchases, increase interoperability, and elevate investment levels."

He also reported that the leaders of NATO member states and governments in Vilnius have "committed to invest in defense at least 2 percent of their GDP annually."