BRUSSELSDefense spending has increased significantly among NATO allies, a meeting of defense ministers from the Western alliance was told Thursday in Brussels. The meeting heard that, across European allies and Canada, there was a 4.3 percent real increase in defense spending, equivalent to about $12 billion. This means that over the last three years, NATO members spent almost $46 billion more on defense.

This is a significant increase, which means that we are moving in the right direction when it comes to burden-sharing and defense spending,"NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.We are making major progress. This will be the third consecutive year of accelerating defense investment across European allies and Canada.

Cyber defense

It was also confirmed at the meeting that a cyberattack, such as thoserecentlyobserved, can trigger Article 5NATOs mutual defense clauseof the North Atlantic treaty in the same way as a conventional military assault. It is believed the latest attack was designed to cause chaos rather than extort money. Ukrainian officials have pointed at Russia, which is fighting an undeclared war with Ukraine in the east of the country and has been blamed for previous cyberattacks on Kiev.

Anti-ISIS efforts

He also noted that NATOs presence in the Black Sea region is developing, adding: Earlier this week, the headquarters of our Multinational Brigade South East in Romania was activated as a NATO military body. The brigade is conducting exercises and U.K. jets are currently patrolling the regions skies.

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Defense spending increased 'significantly' among NATO allies - DefenseNews.com