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This week, NATO has signed a contract worth 1.1 billion euros for the purchase of ammunition.
NATO on Wednesday launched one of the largest military exercises since the Cold War era, in a move that many experts in the field see as a show of force against Russia.
According to data from NATO, about 90,000 forces will participate in the several-month exercise called "Steadfast Defender 2024".
The main purpose of the maneuvers is to test the defense of the alliance countries, while Russia's war in Ukraine continues.
"The alliance will demonstrate its ability to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic arena through the transatlantic movement of forces from North America," said General Christopher Cavoli.
"Steadfast Defender 2024 will be a clear demonstration of our unity, strength and determination to defend each other, our values and the rules-based international order," he added.
The exercise is designed as a simulation of the 31-nation alliance's response to an attack by a rival country such as Russia. 50 warships, 80 aircraft and over 1,100 ground combat vehicles will take part in it.
According to VOA, this is the largest exercise since 1988 when the "Reforger" exercise was held during the Cold War. It comes at a time when NATO has transformed its defenses since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in 2022.
Meanwhile, this week NATO has signed a contract worth 1.1 billion euros for the purchase of ammunition.
Some of them will be sent to Ukraine, after complaints from this country that the lack of ammunition is hindering efforts to defend against the Russian invasion.
"The war in Ukraine has become a battle of ammunition", said the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Soltenberg, after the contract signing ceremony at the headquarters of the alliance in Brussels.
NATO has signed the agreement on behalf of many allies who will either send the ammunition to Ukraine or store it in their military warehouses.
Buying ammunition in bulk guarantees them lower prices.
NATO countries are expected to receive about 220,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, and the first shipments are expected to be released by the end of 2025, a NATO official told the Reuters news agency.
They will be produced by the French company Nexet and the German company Junghans.
The war in Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarize Ukraine.
The West has responded to Russia, hitting the economy of this country with harsh sanctions.
As a result of the war, thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced from their homes.
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