Romanian-American dialogue at the Ministry of National Defence on regional security and defence cooperation

Romanian-American dialogue at the Ministry of National Defence on regional security and defence cooperation

State Secretary and Head of the Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Sorin Moldovan, and the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Dragoș Iacob, received, on Saturday, a United States Congress delegation led by Mike Rogers, Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, at the Ministry of National Defence headquarters.

The talks agenda included security developments in the region, the strategic importance of the Black Sea, the strengthening of the Romania-US Strategic Partnership, and prospects for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.

State Secretary Sorin Moldovan highlighted the importance of the United States' commitment to the security of NATO's Eastern Flank and the Black Sea region, and emphasized the essential role of the transatlantic relationship in the current security context.

"Romania remains a reliable ally of the United States and an active contributor to the security of NATO's Eastern Flank. We seek to further strengthen the U.S. military posture in Romania - including through a permanent presence - which would serve as a key element for deterrence, defence, and stability in the Black Sea region," State Secretary Sorin Moldovan stated.

During the meeting, the Romanian official noted that Romania had responded to the U.S. Department of Defense's request by submitting the document regarding the review of the U.S. military posture in Europe, thereby reaffirming the country's stance on the importance of maintaining and reinforcing the U.S. presence in the region.

The discussions also addressed enhancing cooperation in the fields of training, capability development, and military education, with a focus on increasing interoperability and leveraging opportunities for joint training between the two nations' armed forces.

The discussions also addressed the relationship between security, stability, and industrial cooperation, and highlighted the importance of enhancing economic cooperation and increasing U.S. investment in Romania as part of the development of the Strategic Partnership.

At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their interest in continuing political and military dialogue and in strengthening Romanian-U.S. cooperation in areas of mutual strategic interest.

The Press Office