World News | Biden Asks NATO Countries to Strengthen Their Industrial Base

Washington, Jul 11 (PTI) US President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on NATO member countries to strengthen their industrial base, given that Russia is now on a wartime footing with regard to defence production.

Two years ago, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) launched a plan to modernise its deterrence and defence system, Biden said during a working session of the NATO summit here.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Meeting With Austrian Leaders, Including Federal President Alexander Van Der Bellen, To Expand India-Austria Cooperation (Watch Video).

"Today, we have to ask ourselves, what is next? How can we keep making the shield stronger? One answer must be to strengthen our industrial base," he said.

"Right now, Russia is on a wartime footing with regard to defence production. They are significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions and vehicles. And they are doing it with the help of China, North Korea and Iran. In my view, we cannot allow the alliance to fall behind," the president said.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Urges Austria CEOs To Invest in India's Fast-Growing Economy.

"I am very pleased that today, all NATO members are making the pledge to expand our industrial base and our industrial capacity, like our defence-spending commitment. This is a critical step to maintaining our security," Biden said, adding that for the first time ever, every NATO nation is pledging to develop plans for defence production at home.

"That means, as an alliance, we will become more innovative and competitive. We are able to produce more critical defence equipment more quickly and we may need it," he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)