The strengthening of the allied deterrence and defense posture on NATO's Eastern Flank, the security situation near Romania's borders and the defense industry were among the topics addressed on Thursday at the meeting between the Minister of National Defense, Ionuţ Moşteanu, and the Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Radmila Shekerinska.
The meeting between the two officials took place on the sidelines of the NATO Industry Forum, held on November 5 and 6 in Bucharest.
According to a press release sent by the Ministry of Defense, the Minister of Defense and the Deputy Secretary General of NATO emphasized the importance of maintaining allied support for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as the need to strengthen the resilience of these partners.
"An important point of discussion was 'Sentinel of the East', NATO's recent initiative aimed at developing a coherent air defense architecture across the entire Eastern Flank, including Romania, and which provides for strengthening air defense and increasing the allied military presence in the region," the statement said.
The two officials also mentioned the commitments made at the NATO Summit in The Hague, in particular the objective set by the allies to gradually increase defense budgets to 5% of GDP by 2035, a measure considered essential for consolidating defense capabilities and strengthening the allied posture on the Eastern Flank.
"Romania remains a responsible and predictable ally. The Black Sea represents an area of strategic interest for the entire Alliance, and cooperation with our partners is essential for ensuring stability. We will continue to invest in our own capabilities, support partners in the Eastern neighborhood and actively contribute to the security of the Eastern Flank", declared Minister Mosteanu, quoted in the press release.
The meeting highlighted the essential role of developing the defense industry, both at national and allied levels, as a strategic instrument for ensuring the capabilities necessary to counter threats from an unstable and unpredictable security environment, the cited source informs.
Ionut Mosteanu and Radmila Shekerinska highlighted that investments in the production, modernization and innovation of defense technologies represent an indispensable condition for supporting allied operations, strengthening resilience and increasing the capacity to respond to emerging challenges.
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