Romania is today a safe country and a pillar of stability in Eastern Europe, President Klaus Iohannis said on Friday, adding that the country must remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defence against the aggressor for as long as it takes.

Iohannis added that Romania is in a process of optimising its national legislative framework to prevent and combat the risk of failed drones used by Russian forces against Ukrainian targets, falling on national soil.

„We are going through difficult times, marked by multiple challenges, which increase the instability and unpredictability of security developments at regional, European and global level, a context in which military power acquires even greater relevance, both as a means of strengthening and projecting force, and as an essential factor of deterrence and defence. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shaken the security architecture on the European continent and is a serious violation of international law and a challenge to the rules-based international order, which has ensured peace and stability in the world since WWII,” the head of state said in remarks to a military ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Carol I Park in Bucharest on Romanian Armed Forces Day.

Iohannis added that Romania must remain vigilant and continue national efforts, in cooperation with NATO allies, to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in the Black Sea region.

„We must remain firmly committed to supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defence against the aggressor, for as long as it takes, together with NATO allies and European and international partners. Russian forces continue their aggressions causing civilian casualties and significant damage to the Ukrainian port infrastructure, including in the vicinity of the river border with Romania. In the face of these challenges, we remain vigilant and continue the combined national efforts and close cooperation with our allies to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in the Black Sea region, which is an area of strategic importance to Euro-Atlantic security.

„At the same time, we are in a process of optimising the national legislative framework in order to be able to prevent and combat the risk of failed drones used by Russian forces against Ukrainian targets, or fragments thereof falling on our national soil.”

The President added that Romania is a safe country and a pillar of stability in Eastern Europe, and Romanian citizens enjoy the most solid security guarantees in their history.

„At this year’s NATO summit in Washington, NATO leaders underlined that they remain firmly committed to the security and stability of the Black Sea region, and that is largely due to Romania’s political, diplomatic and military efforts over the past 10 years. In fact, facts speak for themselves. We host on our national soil a series of important NATO structures and commands, and about 5,000 allied soldiers are training together with the Romanian military,” Iohannis said.

In his remarks, the President thanked the soldiers of the United States of America, France, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Belgium, UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Bulgaria, Turkey, Luxembourg, Germany, Canada, Greece, North Macedonia and Hungary for their presence in Romania.

AGERPRES