Media learned of NATO plans to hand over classified weapons information to the EU

NATO will transfer confidential information on military production to the European Union (EU). This was reported by Bloomberg on January 26, citing sources.

"The alliance is looking for a way to communicate some of its aggregate targets in a format that could be safely shared to persuade companies to increase production capacity," the publication said.

It is specified that the data transmitted will include information on what weapons and equipment the countries participating in the alliance plan to produce.

According to the agency, the implementation of this step will require the consent of all allies, and it could be implemented in the coming months, added "Gazeta.Ru".

On the same day, the head of the German defense concern Rheinmetall Armin Papperger said that more defense companies with a turnover of about €40 billion should be created in Europe. However, it is still small enough to compete with U.S. defense technology groups, he added.

Before that, on January 15, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged MEPs to shift to a military mindset. According to him, this requires an increase in defense spending.

On January 10, Reuters learned about NATO's disapproval of US President Donald Trump's plan to increase the alliance's spending. At the same time, some officials, whose names were not disclosed, although they did not support the initiative of the U.S. politician, they generally supported the increase in defense spending.