Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks met with 32 Allied Permanent Representatives (PermReps) to NATO today at the Pentagon to discuss a range of defense issues, including deterrence and defense; Ukraine; strategic competition; and NATO's regional security concerns.
The Deputy Secretary congratulated the NATO PermReps on concluding a successful Summit in Vilnius in July, which yielded deliverables on defense and deterrence to include the an adapted command-and-control structure, a new Defense Investment Pledge, a Defense Production Action Plan, and expanded assistance to Ukraine.
She also discussed the importance of munitions interoperability, creating long-term capabilities for multi-year, multi-nation procurement within Allied defense industrial bases, and building more resilient supply chains to address both the acute challenge of Russian aggression and the long-term challenge of strategic competition with the People's Republic of China.
The Deputy Secretary said the efforts Allies have undertaken have made NATO stronger than ever, and said she looks forward to the Washington Summit in July, 2024.
