Key facts
- NATO allies will purchase up to five Triton surveillance drones.
- Four NATO nations have signed a letter of intent for the drone purchase.
- NATO leaders expressed concerns about China's military build-up.
- There is a push for NATO to become more European to reduce reliance on the US.
- NATO is launching defense projects aimed at countering both Russia and China.
NATO allies are moving to acquire up to five Triton surveillance drones, with four nations having signed a letter of intent for the purchase. This development underscores growing concerns among alliance members regarding China's expanding military capabilities.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who also serves as NATO chief, emphasized that the alliance cannot afford to be naive about China's military build-up. He specifically pointed to a recent missile launch from a Chinese submarine as an example of this growing threat. Rutte, along with Von der Leyen, also stated that NATO needs to become more European in its approach to security to lessen its reliance on the United States.