Defence Ministers support more efficient spending
Over dinner, NATO Defence Ministers focused on a range of projects to help the Alliance build security in times of austerity, taking into consideration the initial findings of a task force to promote Smart Defence led by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Stéphane Abrial (SACT).
Ministers discussed projects in critical areas for the conduct of NATO operations, such as surveillance and reconnaissance, medical support, force protection or maintenance of essential assets to operations such as helicopters.
Ministers stressed it is important to avoid duplication and to establish clear priorities. They agreed to look more closely at areas for multinational cooperation in the coming months, taking into account recent operational experiences, in order to develop concrete projects in the run-up to the Chicago Summit.
"Smart Defence is not an excuse for insufficient defence spending", the Secretary General said. "We may not be able to spend more, but we can spend smarter by spending together".