NATO to Buy 1,000 Patriot Missiles to Defend Allies

NATO announced on Wednesday that its European members have signed a contract to purchase up to a thousand Patriot missiles, aiming to bolster their air defenses in the face of the Russian threat.

This announcement comes at a time when Moscow has launched a barrage of missile attacks and drone strikes against Ukraine in recent days.

NATO's procurement agency stated that the agreement, approved by an initial group of countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain, will lead to an increase in Patriot missile production in Europe.

NATO allies, including the United States and Germany, had previously sent American-made Patriot systems to Ukraine to counter Russian missiles exceeding the speed of sound.

However, the delivery of these missiles to Kyiv depleted Western stocks and prompted Washington to turn to its allies like Japan for assistance in replenishing them.

NATO's Support and Procurement Agency revealed that the new contract will involve the establishment of a missile production facility in Germany through a joint venture between the German company MBDA and Raytheon, a part of the U.S.-based RTX group.

In mid-December last year, NATO announced a 12% increase in its military budget for 2024, amounting to €2.03 billion, and an 18.2% increase in its civilian budget, reaching €438.1 million. NATO stated that the increase in the military budget enables allies to address shared security challenges more effectively.

The civilian budget provides funds for personnel, operating costs, program expenses at NATO headquarters, and its international staff, while the military budget covers the operating costs of NATO's command structure, missions, and operations worldwide.