President Klaus Iohannis will participate, July 9 to 11, in the meeting of heads of state and government of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which will take place in Washington, D.C., United States of America, the Presidential Administration informed in a press release.

The 2024 summit is an anniversary one, marking 75 years since the founding of NATO, the most powerful political-military alliance in history, which has proved even in the difficult period since the outbreak of the war against Ukraine that the unity, solidarity and determination of the Allies are its main strategic advantages.

The Presidential Administration also highlights that Romania marks this year two decades since its accession to NATO, a membership that has brought Romanian citizens the most solid security guarantees in history.

„Romania is a strong and responsible ally, a relevant provider of security and stability in the Black Sea region and beyond. In this context, President Klaus Iohannis will emphasise in Washington that NATO membership is one of the solid foundations of Romania’s democratic development, deeply committed to the European and Euro-Atlantic security architecture,” the release reads.

At the summit, leaders will take important decisions on strengthening long-term support for Ukraine, giving it more predictability. At the same time, Allied leaders will agree on further strengthening and modernising the collective deterrence and defence posture.

The Summit agenda will include three high-level meetings of the North Atlantic Council, including in formats with Ukraine, the European Union and NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners, as well as an anniversary event. Several official documents will also be adopted, including the Summit Declaration and a NATO-Ukraine Council Declaration.

„The president of Romania will emphasise, in the working sessions, the crucial importance of the transatlantic link and collective defence, based on Article 5. In this regard, he will support Allied decisions on strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture and will call for increased attention to the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea, a region of strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security. President Klaus Iohannis will also underline that NATO’s posture is based on robust and effective forces, capabilities and command and control arrangements capable of responding to all threats,” informs the Presidential Administration.

According to the quoted source, during the meeting, Romania will support the substantial support package for Ukraine. It will show that Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration into NATO is irreversible, in line with the decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008 and Vilnius in 2023.

The Romanian president will also advocate for continued support for NATO’s vulnerable partners, especially Moldova, and for increasing their capacity to respond to the growing hybrid threats. President Klaus Iohannis will support NATO’s efforts to strengthen relations with partners in the South.

Other topics that will be discussed by the leaders in Washington will be strengthening resilience, NATO’s response to threats in the South and deepening cooperation with NATO partners.

In the geopolitical architecture of the world, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will continue to provide the necessary framework for cooperation in the area of security and strengthening mutual trust between the Allies, offering the citizens of the Euro-Atlantic area the level of security necessary to preserve democratic values and quality of life, the Presidential Administration added.

AGERPRES