Speaking at the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Minister of National Defence Mihnea Motoc assured the allied states that the timeline for the Deveselu ballistic missile defence facility becoming operational will be met; he restated the commitment to increase the budget allocations for defence, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informs on Friday.
According to a statement sent to AGERPRES, on the second day of the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, Motoc stressed the fact that Romania remains committed in Afghanistan by maintaining the existing level of troops, as approved by the Supreme Council for Country’s Defence (CSAT).
“Through the decisions adopted, the meeting represented an important moment in the shaping of results of the Warsaw Summit; the current decisions will be consolidated at the ministerial meeting in June, as their particular importance has the potential to generate concrete political agreements of member states in view of the summit,” the MApN statement reads.
Moreover, the statement adds, during the meeting were established the future direction of action in areas with broad implications in the fields of security and defence, such as rising the national capacity for resilience to current security challenges, cybernetic defence, countering hybrid threats, defence against ballistic missiles and institutional adaptation.
At the same time, NATO member states reiterated their commitment to allocating the necessary budget resources for defence to the purpose of strengthening the capabilities at NATO’s disposal.
“Minister Mihnea Motoc reiterated the commitment of Romanian authorities to increase budget allocations for defence, in view of attaining the 2pct of GDP target starting 2017, as a solid basis for the process of consolidating the national defence capability. In reference to declaring the initial operational capabilities of the NATO Ballistic Missile Defence (NATO BMD) on the occasion of the Warsaw Summit, an important objective for Romania, the National Defence Minister assured the allied states that the Deveselu system, which facilitates the development of the NATO BMD architecture, will become operational in keeping with the deadlines agreed, in accordance with the set objective,” the MApN statement reads.
NATO defence ministers also tackled the situation in Afghanistan, with talks on this topic highlighting the concern to identify appropriate ways to adapt the NATO commitment in this country. As regards to Romania, Mihnea Motoc stated that the country remains committed in Afghanistan by maintaining the current level of troops, according to provisions adopted by the CSAT.
“Following the joint request by Germany, Turkey and Greece, presented in the first day of the meeting, it was decided that NATO military authorities should identify concrete means of action, including of cooperation with the European Union, to dismantle criminal smuggling networks in the Aegean,” the statement reads.
The meeting ended with the works of the NATO — Georgia commission which addressed the implementation status of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) .
“The Romanian official, as representative of the state holding the role of NATO Contact Point Embassy (CPE), congratulated Georgian authorities for progress achieved in the reform process and the contribution to ensuring international security and stability by participating in a significant capacity to NAT operations. The Minister of National Defence stressed that Georgia is the most important non-NATO contributor to the Resolute Support allied mission in Afghanistan and the second overall, for the mission. Moreover, he stressed the importance of continuing the PSM implementation at a rapid pace, highlighting Romania’s contribution to this project,” the MApN statement reads.
In view of the Warsaw Summit, the statement adds, Mihnea Motoc called for identifying new practical means to intensify cooperation, in accordance with declarations by foreign ministers on NATO’s Open Door Policy.
In the second half of the day, the Minister of National Defence participated in the international coalition against ISIS, led by the United States. On this occasion, means were analysed to streamline support provided by the coalition to task forces fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria, with a view to manage the security situation in the region, including on the long term. More…