NATO to share classified data with EU and defense industry to boost production and standardization
NATO has begun the process of transferring some classified information to the defense industry and the European Union. The data will relate to the standardization of weapons and the expansion of production capacities in Alliance member countries.
Bloomberg reports this, citing sources, as Rubryka writes.
According to informed sources, the Alliance is exploring ways to securely share certain data in order to encourage defense companies to increase their production capacities.
These sources note that such a move will require consensus among NATO allies, which could be achieved within the "next few months." They also added that, through a separate procedure, NATO is beginning to exchange some secret standards with the European Union, which includes 24 of the 32 NATO member countries.
This initiative comes as NATO members seek to bolster their defense capabilities in response to Russia's war against Ukraine. Due to the sensitive nature of the information, these standards will be transferred gradually as they are processed by NATO.
These standards are generally military criteria designed to harmonize the armed forces of NATO member states and achieve interoperability among the Alliance's allies. They could include, for example, standardized weapon calibers or common military vocabulary.
Access to this information could enable the EU to harmonize norms on both military and dual-use issues, such as radio frequencies.
A NATO official mentioned that the Alliance had recently shared its unclassified standards, including with the EU. He added that NATO is also working more closely with the defense industry.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte supports this initiative and has actively encouraged the defense industry, particularly in Europe, to increase production.
