G7 ministers call for increased defense production in the West

"We consider it vitally important to maintain our military edge through responsible research, development and rapid adoption of new technologies, particularly those in the areas of emerging and disruptive technologies ," the G7 defense ministers said in a joint statement adopted at a ministerial meeting in Naples, Italy.

The G7 defense ministers stressed the need to "strengthen the defense industry, encourage strong industrial engagement and cooperation with partners," the statement said.

Ministers of G7 countries meet in Naples, Italy on October 19. (Photo: Reuters)

Defence ministers acknowledged "the importance of ensuring access to reliable, predictable and stable funding for defence industries".

They also agreed to "explore multinational cooperation on defense procurement and pool needs to improve efficiency," the statement added.

The defense ministers of the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan also plan to "improve interoperability, based on existing common standards." They acknowledged "the need to reduce our over-reliance on fossil fuels" and "create a reliable and highly skilled workforce as the backbone of deterrence and defense."

At the same time, the statement said the G7 countries support "Ukraine's irreversible path towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)."

The ministers also pledged continued military assistance to Ukraine, both in the short and long term, and stressed the importance of training and support for the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

However, the White House's stance on Ukraine's accession to NATO is that an invitation to join NATO is unlikely to be granted in the short term, citing the need to reform and meet the alliance's security conditions.

On October 19, the first G7 defense ministers' conference opened in Naples, southern Italy, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stressed that during the working day, delegates will devote a lot of space and time to discussing the rising tensions in the Middle East. In addition, the agenda also includes the conflict in Ukraine, development and security in Africa and the situation in Asia- Pacific .

Kong Anh (Source: TASS)

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