Exclusive: Business groups pledge improved NATO industrial output
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European, Canadian and American business groups are committing to improved industrial capacity and weapons production among NATO countries as the alliance gathers in the Netherlands this week.
Why it matters: "The safety of our societies and the resilience of our economies can no longer be taken for granted," Ingrid Thijssen, the president of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW), told Axios.
- "Deterrence and defense demand not just military strength, but a strong industrial base."
Driving the news: VNO-NCW, BusinessEurope and the Canadian and U.S. chambers of commerce are involved in the initiative, which will be presented to Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum on Tuesday.
Focus areas include:
- Promotion of alliance-wide research and development
- Improved interoperability between countries
- More-resilient supply chains
- Better access to capital
- Support for workforce development
Flashback: Last year's forum drew bigwigs from General Atomics, Oracle and RTX as well as then-Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and then-national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Zoom out: Russia's invasion of Ukraine — and Kyiv's stubborn resistance — highlights the changing appetite among weapons buyers and sellers and the troops eventually employing them.
- "Increasing conflicts are challenging the established global order and generating more security and economic risks," BusinessEurope president Fredrik Persson told Axios.
- "A collaborative approach between established defense contractors, [subject matter experts] and emerging startups will enable better and faster solutions to evolving defense needs."
Go deeper: A defense-tech perfect storm brews in Europe
