StateSec Ciamba: Romania is not only a beneficiary, but a significant contributor to allied efforts and actions

Romania is not only a beneficiary, but a significant contributor to the efforts and actions of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Secretary of State for Bilateral and Strategic Affairs in the Euro-Atlantic Area George Ciamba stated on Tuesday, at the debate called "Security challenges in the Black Sea region." 

The event was organised by the New Strategy Center and Center for American Seapower (Hudson Institute, Washington), and it occasioned an exchange of views on security developments in the Black Sea region and manners through which the Romanian-US strategic cooperation can contribute to building a safer region, a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) sent to AGERPRES informs. 

State Secretary George Ciamba mentioned, in his speech, the security developments in the Black Sea region, especially in the Crimean Peninsula, the consolidation of the Russian military presence along NATO's border, as well as the escalation of tensions in Eastern Ukraine. 

In this context, he underscored the importance of fully implementing the decisions regarding the consolidation of the allied defence and deterrence posture, as well as NATO role in projecting stability beyond the allied borders. "The Romania-US cooperation in respect to security in the Black Sea region represents a natural development of the shared interests of the two countries," Ciamba mentioned. 

The State Secretary revealed that Romania "is not just a beneficiary, but a significant contributor to allied efforts and actions," promoting security and stability. In this context, he highlighted that Romania earmarked 2 percent of the GDP to Defence, according to the commitment which our country took on at the NATO Summit in Wales, in 2014. 

Moreover, the State Secretary underscored the importance of endorsing NATO partner states in their efforts to strengthen their own defence capacity, as well as in respect to the process of training and preparing forces, adding that the enlargement of allied support programmes destined to Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova would be appropriate.