NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska on Monday emphasized the need for stronger NATO-EU cooperation to address growing security threats, including Russia’s military aggression and China’s expanding defense capabilities. Speaking at the European Defence Agency’s Annual Conference in Brussels, Shekerinska highlighted the shared responsibility of transatlantic partners to bolster defense investments and production.

“Transatlantic cooperation makes us all stronger,” Shekerinska said. “At this dangerous time for our security, stepping up our cooperation is essential, and this should be our joint goal.”

Escalating Global Threats

Shekerinska warned of increasing challenges from Russia and China. Russia, she said, is on a “war footing,” allocating a record one-third of its national budget to defense and ramping up arms production. Meanwhile, China is rapidly building its forces, investing in disruptive technologies, and expanding its nuclear arsenal without transparency or limitations.

She also pointed to other persistent threats, including terrorism, nuclear proliferation, cyberattacks, and climate change, underscoring the urgency of enhanced NATO-EU collaboration.

Call for Increased Defense Spending and Production

Shekerinska stressed the need for NATO Allies to surpass the current 2% GDP defense spending benchmark, stating it is “not nearly enough anymore.” She urged accelerated production of critical defense capabilities, citing slow, fragmented, and insufficient industrial output in Europe as a pressing concern.

“What is even more dangerous is that if we don’t change, if we are not faster, if we don’t spend more and better, we risk lagging behind Russia,” she said.

She welcomed the EU’s initiatives to boost defense readiness and strengthen its industrial base but emphasized the importance of avoiding duplication of efforts and fostering greater synergy between NATO and EU initiatives.

Examples of Effective Collaboration

Shekerinska highlighted successful NATO-EU cooperation, including the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport fleet, which combines the European Defence Agency’s coordination with NATO’s procurement and maintenance efforts. She called for replicating such joint projects to maximize resources and efficiency.

“NATO and the European Union have every reason to work even more closely together,” Shekerinska said, adding that leveraging each other’s strengths and involving non-EU NATO industries is vital for security across the Euro-Atlantic region.

Preparing for the NATO Summit

Looking ahead to the NATO Summit in The Hague in June, Shekerinska said defense spending and production would remain key priorities for Secretary General Mark Rutte. She urged Allies to act quickly to meet escalating security demands.

“We need to do better. And we need to do it fast,” she concluded.

The Annual Conference of the European Defence Agency focused on “New Horizons in EU Defence” and brought together defense leaders to discuss evolving challenges and cooperative solutions in the security domain.