OREANDA-NEWS. The total defense spending of NATO countries will grow by $ 130 billion in 2020 and $ 400 billion in 2024 compared to 2016. The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, told reporters upon arrival at the summit. He also said that the leaders of NATO countries will discuss for the first time in history at a summit in London their response to strengthening China and the growth of its military capabilities.

"For the first time in the history of the alliance, we will discuss with the NATO leaders the rise of China, which brings us both new opportunities and challenges. China is actively investing in new military capabilities, China today has the second largest military budget in the world after the United States", he said. This country has recently gained new military capabilities, including new types of nuclear weapons. We must respond to this all together".

Earlier, at NATO meetings, China was mentioned only with the submission of the United States and only in the context of restricting the use of its components in advanced military equipment of the alliance countries and reducing the access of Chinese companies to the development of 5G technologies in the West.