UK, Netherlands, Finland, Poland to begin treaty talks on joint defense procurement scheme
- Multilateral Defense Mechanism to ‘reduce costs, give industry greater certainty, deliver much better value for money, improve our joint NATO capabilities,’ says joint statement
By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - The UK, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland will begin treaty negotiations as part of a joint defense procurement scheme, with the initiative expected to become operational in 2027, according to a statement Wednesday.
In a joint statement, the four European countries said they had stepped up efforts to begin treaty negotiations as part of the Multilateral Defense Mechanism (MDM) partnership, which aims to accelerate defense investment and joint procurement.
“We can announce today that MDM partners will be commencing treaty negotiations, respecting individual members’ national processes, while maintaining the aim of having the MDM up and running in 2027,” the statement read.
It noted that the MDM will “reduce costs, give industry greater certainty, deliver much better value for money and improve our joint NATO capabilities,” ultimately meeting the military needs of its members.
According to the British government, the MDM is an innovative way of financing defense spending that provides greater purchasing power, allowing participating countries to improve their capabilities within unavoidable fiscal constraints.
“In light of the rapidly evolving international security environment and the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we shall act together to be prepared to address future threats. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and resisting Russian aggression,” the four countries said in a joint statement ahead of the NATO summit held in Ankara, Türkiye, in July.