Romania, US discuss bilateral defense and regional security

Europe, News, US September 27, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Romania and the United States defense officials meet to discuss bilateral defense relations, regional security, and NATO’s response to the Russia-Ukraine war.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander met with Romanian State Secretary and Chief of the Department for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations Simona Cojocaru on September 24, 2022, in Romania.

During the meeting, both leaders “recognized the 25th anniversary of the U.S.-Romania strategic partnership, shared views on Black Sea security, and lauded NATO’s unified response against Russia’s war of choice in Ukraine,” the joint statement read.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense release, the U.S. and Romanian officials noted “Ukraine’s recent battlefield successes in the Donbas region and condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent escalatory rhetoric.”

“U.S. Assistant Secretary Wallander reaffirmed the United States’ Article 5 commitment to the Eastern Flank and thanked Romania for hosting a significant number of U.S. rotational forces,” the statement added.

While marking the historical significance of the NATO Madrid Summit which was held in June 2022, the U.S. and Romanian officials stressed the need for the Allies to continue investing in combat-credible forces to defend the Alliance and deter Russian aggression.

The defense officials of both countries, while on board the Romanian naval vessel on the Danube River, were joined by a group of policy and military experts to discuss Black Sea security and observed river barges and cargo ships ferrying vital Ukrainian grain exports to the global market.

*^{Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets. (Image Credit: Kiril Todorov)}*

The joint statement on the U.S.-Romanian bilateral defense relationship highlighted that the defense officials also visited Romania’s 86th Air Base in Borcea, where they held a meeting with members of Romania’s F-16 squadron, which supports NATO combat air patrols and Black Sea air policing operations.

Romania is a key ally of the U.S. in the region and plays an important role in contributing to NATO missions in Europe and beyond. The United States has about 1,000 rotational forces in Romania, including heavy infantry, rotary assets, enablers, and Europe’s first Aegis-Ashore site which was established about six years ago.