NATO has begun the process of “sharing” some of its highly classified capability targets—which determine what kind of weapons and equipment member states must produce—with the defence industry, according to officials familiar with the matter, including the new Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte.

As Bloomberg reports, the move is part of an effort by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to push for increased production in what Rutte describes as a “transition to a war mentality.”

According to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, NATO is seeking ways to express some of its consolidation goals in a format that can be securely shared to persuade defence companies to increase production capacity. The step requires consensus among allies and could be implemented in the coming months, a Bloomberg source indicated.

The initiative comes as NATO members work to rearm in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Donald Trump’s return to the White House has heightened this urgency, as the former US president has threatened to withhold military support from NATO members that do not spend enough on defence.

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In a separate process, the Alliance has also begun sharing some classified standards with the European Union, which includes 21 of NATO’s 32 members. Due to the sensitivity of the information, these standards will be released gradually as NATO refines and updates them.

These standards constitute the military criteria aimed at harmonising the armed forces of member states and achieving interoperability among allies. They could include, for instance, gun calibres or standardised military terminology.

Access to this information could enable the EU to harmonise regulations, both in military terms and on issues such as radio frequencies.

A NATO official stated that the Alliance has taken steps to share its standards, including with the EU, as part of its new defence plans. NATO is also collaborating more closely with the defence industry, the official added.

Recently, NATO shared unclassified hardware samples with the EU—a move described by the European Union’s Defence and Space Commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, as an unprecedented show of trust.

According to sources familiar with the matter, this step was taken at Rutte’s initiative, as the former Dutch Prime Minister prioritises strengthening ties between NATO and the EU following his appointment last October.

Source: CNN Greece

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