NATO military exercise “Dacian spring” in Romania, Monday, May 12, 2025. Credit Line: Dirk Waem / Belga Press / Profimedia
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that the Alliance wants to reach the “root” of a corruption case that involves the military procurement agency of the transatlantic organization, based in Luxembourg, informs EFE, quoted by Agerpres. Following the research done, several people were arrested.
This is the NATO Agency for Support and Procurement that is based in Luxembourg and whose responsibilities include the purchase, operation and maintenance of armament systems, fuel supply, port services, airport logistics, air transport and medical and catering services.
“We want to get to the root of this problem. Being NATO, we accept no form of any violation of judicial principles, but obviously I cannot say more about this because it is now in the hands of the judicial authorities,” Rutte said upon arrival at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in NATO Member States.
The head of NATO said that the agency is the one who initiated the investigation into the alleged corruption case and collaborates “very closely with all the relevant authorities”.
More arrested suspects
The case led to extensive police actions in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the United States.
The Luxembourg Prosecutor's Office said in a statement on Wednesday that the corruption file involves current and former officials of the Agency, suspect they would have used their personal functions, and the police carried out several searches in Luxembourg.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, these searches led to the confiscation of documents.
“The Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and American authorities performed simultaneous operations that led to the arrest of some suspects,” the statement said.
The Luxembourg judicial authorities wanted to clarify that they are grateful to the Agency for Support and Procurement for “its essential role in initiating this case and for the continuous and sustained assistance granted for the continuation of the investigation”.
