Romania maintains its firm commitment to the modernization and adaptation of its armed forces, in close cooperation with its American partner, thus consolidating its position as a pillar of stability within the North Atlantic Alliance and in the Black Sea region, the Ministry of National Defense (MApN) informed on Tuesday.

The message was sent in the context of the meeting between the Minister of National Defense, Liviu-Ionut Mosteanu, and the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the US Embassy in Bucharest, Michael Dickerson.

The discussions highlighted the firm commitment of both parties to ensuring Euro-Atlantic security, in the context of the current challenges in the Black Sea region. The Minister of Defense stressed the importance of maintaining a robust American military presence on Romanian territory, an essential element in consolidating NATO’s position.

In the same context, Romania’s strategic objective of reaching a level of investment of 5% of GDP in the field of defense by 2035 was reiterated, in accordance with the commitments made at the NATO Summit in The Hague. The allied decisions reflect the need to strengthen defense capabilities, increase resilience and firmly support Ukraine’s security efforts, in an increasingly tense regional context.

The cooperation between the Romanian and American armed forces was appreciated as one of the most solid components of the bilateral partnership, with a direct impact on increasing interoperability and preparedness for possible challenges, the Ministry of National Defense emphasizes.

„Our relationship with the United States represents a fundamental pillar of national and regional security. We will continue to deepen this strategic collaboration in order to respond effectively to any security challenges,” declared Minister Mosteanu.

AGERPRES