Defense Secretary Austin Praises Strong Global Support for Ukraine

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III marked NATO’s birthday by slamming Russia, pledging more help for Ukraine and warning that any attempt to undermine the alliance only undermines American security.

In a speech Wednesday at the summit marking the 75th anniversary of NATO’s creation. he also praised what he called an historic increase in defense spending among the allies. This year, a record 23 members of the alliance will meet the defense-spending target of two percent of GDP.

“Now, our NATO allies are not just spending more on their own defense. They’re also spending more on America’s industrial base,” Austin said. “That means platforms and munitions built in America. And that’s helping to revitalize production lines across our country and to create good jobs for American workers.”

He also said alliance members will work to expand industrial capacity. That will help scale up military production, he said, and send a long-term signal to industry.

Austin’s speech came not long after word that NATO countries have begin sending long-awaited F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. President Biden announced the agreement more than a year ago. Ukrainian pilots and maintenance crews have been training with the planes for months, both in the US and Europe.

The defense secretary pledged that there is more to come.

“We’ll deepened cooperation in support of Ukraine’s self-defense,” Austin said. “We’ll launch a new military effort to help coordinate some aspects of security assistance and training for Ukraine. And we’re poised to agree on a new financial pledge to Ukraine.”