Stockholm, 27 October 2023 (TDI): The 2023 NATO Industry Forum was convened in Stockholm, Sweden, from October 24th to 25th.
This event was organized by NATO Allied Command Transformation and the Defense Investment Division of the NATO Headquarters International Military Staff, acting on behalf of the NATO Secretary General.
The NATO Industry Forum served as a high-level gathering aimed at fostering collaboration between NATO and industry, with this year’s focus being on addressing the “New Strategic Reality Together”.
The event was based on the resolutions made by Heads of State and Government, specifically concerning the Defense Production Action Plan, at the NATO Vilnius Summit in July 2023.
Furthermore, it provided a platform to examine NATO’s outlook on its forthcoming defense capabilities.
The NIF convened industry executives, senior NATO civilian and military leaders, national officials, and prominent figures from various institutions.
This diverse gathering featured contributions from military representatives, NATO and European institution officials, chief executive officers, and senior executives from the defense and security sectors, along with other decision-makers.
Moreover, with an impressive attendance of 800 participants and more than 220 industry representatives, the Forum aimed to foster open dialogue with the industry, focusing on innovation and capability enhancement within NATO.
It provided a valuable platform for participants to gain insights into NATO’s strategic priorities and deliberate on how the industry can contribute to addressing present and future security challenges.
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By fostering cooperative partnerships with industry and allies, NATO enhances its strength and operational effectiveness.
The NATO Industry Forum served as a platform where NATO’s political and military leaders interact with industry experts to explore capabilities that support deterrence, defense, crisis prevention and management, and collaborative security efforts.
NATO’s engagement with the industry has gained heightened significance, particularly following Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine last year.
Several NATO member countries have significantly reduced their stockpiles to provide support to Ukraine, which will have an ongoing requirement for substantial and high-quality capabilities to ensure its defense.
During his keynote speech, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the necessity to increase production, not only to fulfill Ukraine’s requirements but also to reinforce our own deterrence and defense capabilities.
