Premium
President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday that Romania has achieved its goals at the summit of NATO Heads of State and Government in Brussels.
"I am convinced that this meeting helped to ensure Romania's durable defence and its visible role in ensuring the security of our region and of the Euro-Atlantic area. From our point of view, it was a successful meeting," the Head of the State said after the meeting.
He stressed that NATO remains the same relevant, powerful and united organisation.
The Head of the state specified he hailed at the meeting "President Trump's firm reiteration of the U.S. commitment to the Alliance for Joint Defense and the Strengthening of the Eastern Flank," including through the very recent proposal of increasing the European Reinsurance Initiative funding in 2018 from 3.4 billion dollars, at present, to 4.8 billion.
"We highlighted the importance of a strong transatlantic relation. To its support, an important decision of the Member States looked at a more judicious division of responsibilities, by stimulating the increase in the defence budget of each ally," showed Iohannis.
He pointed out that the Allies appreciate that Romania has already allocated 2 percent of GDP for defence, but emphasised that it is essential to spend these amounts according to their purpose, which depends on the Government.
"We have firmly supported the growth of NATO's role in combating terrorism," Iohannis said.
President Iohannis welcomed the completion of Montenegro's accession to NATO.
"We have underscored Romania's status as a major and responsible contributor to NATO, fulfilling all its commitments. Hence, I referred to the progress of the Multinational Brigade and the Combined Joint Enhanced Training Initiative, to the exercises we are hosting, and to the intensified naval presence at the Black Sea," he added.
He welcomed the American participation on the Romanian territory, but also within the anti-missile system hosted by our country.
"We stressed at the meeting that NATO's adjustment to the developments in the Black Sea and Eastern Alliance should continue, and it is essential to establish priority lines of action along three directions. Firstly, we need to continue strengthening the collective defence, which entails consolidating the progress already achieved regarding the deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank. We have also reiterated the importance of coherence between the North and the South of the Eastern Flank, with a need for an enhanced, persistent allied presence in the South, in all its dimensions - terrestrial, air and, of course, at the Black Sea. Secondly, NATO's backing must be pursued to strengthen the resilience and defence capabilities of neighbouring partners in a balanced way, including the ones in the East, within the framework of the Alliance's effort to boost stability. Thirdly, a clear and consistent approach is needed in relation to Russia," Iohannis completed.
