Iohannis: Advance with 'open doors' policy; Romania fully supports Macedonia's invitation into NATO

President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday that the North-Atlantic Alliance should advance with regard to the "open doors" policy, showing that Romania upholds the decision to invite Macedonia in NATO. 

"We should advance with 'the open doors' policy. Romania fully supports the decision to send out an accession invitation to Northern Macedonia," the head of state told the meeting of North Atlantic Council at the Level of Heads of State and Government taking place in Brussels. 

He underscored that NATO member states should provide a stronger defence and deterrence, specifying that the efficacy and coherence of an advanced presence are still in progress. 

"We must have the right forces, with the right training and intervention capacity, with the right command structure and the appropriate capacities to efficiently operate as a true deterrence factor. We need a unified approach and planning for the defence of the entire eastern Flank. We must fully implement the correct posture in the region along all directions - land, water and air," the head of state said. 

He pointed out that Romania has volunteered to host a command and control multinational capacity to support NATO's advanced presence. 

Klaus Iohannis also highlighted that swift decisions need to be made and military training needs to be enhanced, context in which he thanked the US President, Donald Trump, for the "Readiness Initiative". 

"We should enhance NATO's role in combating terrorism," Iohannis added. 

The President reiterated that assigning tasks is essential in NATO's deterrence efforts. The head of state reminded that ever since 2017 Romania has allocated 2 percent of its GDP to Defence. 

"Over 33 percent of expenses were allocated to the procurement of major equipment, and this year it will be 35 percent. We are firmly committed to continue," Klaus Iohannis concluded.