ADEX Visit Amid NATO Defense Budget Increase Decisions
Radmila Sekirinska, Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), addressed the need for increased defense spending among NATO countries, acknowledging that while the decision was not easy, it was necessary.
Sekirinska, who is visiting South Korea to attend the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) taking place at KINTEX in Goyang, expressed intentions to strengthen practical cooperation with South Korea, particularly in the defense industry sector.
During her visit, she has already toured the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and met with CEOs of major Korean defense companies. She is also scheduled to meet with high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek, and National Security Advisor Wi Sung-rak.
Sekirinska emphasized NATO’s interest in expanding political dialogue and practical cooperation with South Korea, identifying the defense industry as a significant area of collaboration. She highlighted the increasing interconnection between the Indo-Pacific and European-Atlantic regions in terms of shared security concerns and the importance of joint efforts to address these issues.
A notable reason for collaboration between South Korea and NATO, according to Sekirinska, is the deepening military cooperation between Russia, which invaded Ukraine, and North Korea. NATO has voiced concern over this growing military partnership, noting that it undermines peace on the Korean Peninsula and exacerbates the conflict in Ukraine.
While the pressure from the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump contributed to NATO members agreeing to raise defense spending, the urgency was also heightened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite the 2014 NATO summit’s decision to allocate at least 2% of GDP to defense, the need for increased spending became more prominent post-invasion, leading to significant consensus among member states.
At a recent summit, NATO leaders agreed on a joint statement that sets the goal for 32 member countries to increase defense expenditures to 5% of GDP by 2035. This includes spending at least 3.5% of GDP on core defense needs and up to 1.5% on infrastructure protection, network defense, and strengthening the defense industry base.
Sekirinska, who served as North Macedonia’s Defense Minister, was appointed NATO Deputy Secretary General last November. During her tenure, North Macedonia became NATO’s 30th member in 2020.