A widening corruption probe is shaking the foundations of NATO’s procurement apparatus, as Belgian authorities-working alongside European partners-investigate allegations of bribery, confidential leaks, and illicit laundering of funds involving officials at the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The scandal, which centers on the awarding of arms contracts, underscores deep vulnerabilities in the Alliance’s procurement oversight and threatens to damage trust in one of NATO’s most vital operational branches.

According to the Belgian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, investigators are looking into “irregularities in awarding contracts to defense contractors for the purchase of military equipment for NATO.” Specifically, the inquiry focuses on NSPA personnel who allegedly leaked classified procurement information to select defense firms in exchange for bribes.

The leaked data reportedly provided insider advantages to contractors competing for deals involving ammunition and drone systems-two highly sought-after capabilities given the backdrop of NATO’s increasing logistical support to Ukraine and its own modernization efforts. While NATO, as an alliance, does not maintain its own arsenal, the NSPA plays a pivotal role in acquiring military equipment and services for its member states, making it a linchpin in the transatlantic defense ecosystem.

In a report published on May 15 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), it was alleged that the suspects laundered illicit funds through a network of fictitious consultancy........

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