FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe suspension of Elbit Systems' programs has caused concern in European capitals, as the Israeli company is involved in numerous important NATO contracts. International investigations have uncovered a vast network of corruption involving consultants, former NATO officials and defense businessmen, with suspected political interference from the United States. Member states are demanding greater transparency in NSPA procurement, while Elbit denies the allegations and claims to be cooperating with authorities.
The Elbit affair has caused embarrassment in European capitals, given the large number of NATO programs the Israeli manufacturer has supplied in recent years. The firm secured a $175 million deal for self-defense systems for 12 Airbus Caracal H225M helicopters ordered by Dutch special forces, as well as electronic countermeasures for C-390 transport aircraft delivered to the Austrian and Dutch militaries.
Elbit also equipped the Airbus MRTT tanker fleets of eight NATO countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, a major program awarded in 2023 worth tens of millions of dollars. The French military, which orders little Israeli equipment, is not affected by these latest contracts.
According to internal documents consulted by La Lettre and its partners, Elbit Systems could now be blacklisted by the NSPA, following its temporary suspension linked to 13 contracts that NATO considers suspicious.
US intervention
The international judicial investigation revealed a widespread system that extends far beyond the Israeli group's contracts. According to our sources, Moeraert, the consultant imprisoned in Belgium, was introduced to Eluasvili by a defense contractor whose name has been mentioned in other bribery cases involving the justice system: Ismaïl Terlemez. This Turkish businessman, also a former NSPA agent, is the CEO of the Ankara-based Arca Defense group.
Terlemez was the target of a long-running FBI investigation into bribery related to a NATO TNT contract for the US Army. He was arrested on 13 May at Brussels airport on suspicion of taking bribes, but was released on 9 July. As revealed by La Lettre and its partners (LL, 20/10/25), the US Department of Justice (DoJ) dropped the charges against him just two weeks after a meeting between President Donald Trump and his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 25 June at a NATO summit in The Hague.
A similar decision by the Department of Justice was made on the same day, July 9. It concerned another case involving suitcases of cash in Romania, related to contracts worth several hundred million euros for the supply of fuel to military ships of NATO countries.
NATO member states demand transparency
These serial corruption cases have now taken on a political dimension at the top of NATO’s hierarchy. They were on the agenda of the last meeting on November 19 of the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s main political decision-making body. Stacy Cummings, the US Director General of the NSPA, was called to explain herself, and some of the 32 ambassadors representing NATO countries called for greater transparency to combat fraud.
An internal report published by La Lettre revealed the pressure exerted by Cummings and Washington to limit the fight against corruption to internal audits at the NSPA (LL du 21/11/25).
In Paris, too, on December 2, the issue was raised during government question time in the National Assembly. Communist MP Édouard Bénard questioned Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin about "manipulated arms contracts" by "corrupt NSPA agents."
“Whenever there is the slightest suspicion, of course there should be investigations,” the minister replied, stating that France had requested “maximum vigilance” regarding the agency’s activities and its management of purchases. The French government is taking the matter seriously. After initially contacting Vautrin by letter on October 31, Bénard was immediately summoned by her advisers. When contacted by our team, the defense ministry’s office stated that France was seeking “continuous efforts to ensure transparency and efficiency in the agency’s operations.” The criticism, delivered in carefully diplomatic language, is aimed squarely at the NSPA’s governance.
Elbit Systems, when asked about the corruption allegations, said it “maintains a comprehensive compliance program” and has “offered the NSPA any assistance they may require.” But it also said it “was not aware of the details referred to… and therefore is not in a position to comment at this stage.” The NATO alliance did not respond to our questions, but in an internal memo dated July 31, the ammunition program manager noted that “other companies [besides Elbit] may be subject to the same process in the near future.” Terlemez and Arca Defense did not respond to our requests for comment. As for Eliau Eluasvili, he could not be reached before the publication of this investigation./ La Lettre
*Elbit Systems, even after NATO suspensions, continues to have important agreements with Edi Rama's government for the development of Albanian infrastructure and military industry.
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