Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

NATO Defense Ministers' meetings began in Brussels on Wednesday, amid international and regional circumstances that call for coordination and assessment of positions in light of successive developments. This is particularly relevant to the most important issue for NATO member states, whose members also constitute a significant portion of the European Union. This issue therefore poses a major security challenge to Europe, more specifically the issue of Russian aggression in the airspace of several member states, which has had an impact on Iranian activity in these countries and other matters. According to multiple media reports, the ministers are meeting for discussions focusing on the "threat" posed by Russia, levels of military spending, European defense capabilities, and support for Ukraine.
NATO ministers are beginning their consultations with their first meeting since the alliance launched a new mission last September aimed at enhancing the protection of the airspace of member states in Eastern Europe following a series of Russian violations of their airspace.
The ministers are also expected to discuss the significant increase in military spending approved by NATO leaders last June under pressure from the United States. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to participate in the meeting.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal will join his NATO counterparts on Wednesday afternoon for talks on combat developments and Kyiv's needs in the face of Moscow.
The meeting will be followed by a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an international platform that coordinates and pools military assistance to Kyiv and includes some 40 countries. Previously led by the United States, the group is now under the leadership of Britain and Germany.
In the evening, EU defense ministers will meet to discuss ways to enhance the EU's defense readiness in preparation for the leaders' summit scheduled for later this month.
According to the announced agenda, the NATO ministerial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday morning at NATO headquarters, followed by a ministerial-level meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group. In the evening, an informal meeting will be held at the European Council headquarters, chaired by European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas, without the participation of the United States, Canada, and Norway.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had previously announced that the meetings would discuss plans to finance increased arms production in Europe, particularly drones, munitions, long-range missiles, and air defense systems, as well as new requests for US arms supplies. During the Contact Group meeting, major deals with the United States for arms purchases for Ukraine are scheduled to be announced, according to US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. Kallas, in turn, intends to discuss with EU ministers accelerating the militarization of the European economy, activating European arms supplies to Ukraine, and the EU's priority military projects, including the "March Wall" project. The European Commission is expected to present a new roadmap for the militarization of the European economy on October 16, according to TASS.