(13 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels – 13 February 2025
1. Norway’s Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik arrives at the summit
2. Latvia Minster of Defense Andris Sprūds arrives at summit
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Pål Jonson, Defense Minister of Sweden:
"Well, I think what we should be doing is focusing on deterrence and defense and that making sure that the we keep NATO strong and that we can defend every inch of the alliance territory. I think it’s going to be crystal clear that, the Europeans allies have to take also larger responsibility for the security. We are moving in their right trajectory that when it comes to defense investments. But more needs to be done. Obviously."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dovilė Šakalienė, Defense Minister of Lithuania:
"I think that we all understand that the moment of payment is always unpleasant and even painful. But United States were justified, and criticism to Europe for not paying for our own defense. After Second World War, Americans were developing their defense industry and their army. What was Europe doing investing in our economy? Now we see that that was not the right path, and it will be a very swift resolution, whether we wake up, actually our defense industry and our armed forces, our capabilities develop very swiftly and very significantly, or we will be in a very difficult situation to put itdiplomatically."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
NATO defense ministers arrived for a meeting in Belgium’s capital on Thursday to address defense spending, industrial capacity and support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
They are meeting in Brussels as part of preparations ahead of the NATO summit due in the Hague in June.
The one-day gathering will also be attended by the new United States Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth.
AP video shot by Mark Carlson
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