Romania is interested in expanding cooperation with Italy, within a multi-domain approach, Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar said on Monday, in the context of a meeting with a delegation of Thales Alenia Space Italy and the ambassador of this country in Bucharest, Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni.

„As far as defence cooperation is concerned, it is consistent at the level of all categories of forces of our army,” added the Romanian minister, according to a National Defence Ministry (MApN) press release.

The discussion agenda included topics related to the main Romanian Army equipment programmes currently underway or in preparation, reviewing the stages, specific procedures required by Romanian legislation and the role of the structures with responsibilities in the process of substantiating and approving the programmes for the provision of modern military equipment and techniques, the source said.

The participants also discussed research and development projects within the framework of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in which MApN collaborates with Thales Alenia Space Italia, aspects related to bilateral cooperation and the presence of Italian companies at the Black Sea Defence and Aerospace exhibition – BSDA 2024.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Tilvar and Ambassador Durante Mangoni reiterated the readiness and the need to strengthen cooperation in the area of defence procurement, infrastructure and other areas of interest, through joint preparation and participation in projects promoted and financed by the European Union.

AGERPRES