Poland demands nuclear weapons, Romania hesitates. Is the right decision? Former chief of staff: “We have nothing to defend them and I immediately became target”

Poland has officially asked France and the US to move nuclear weapons on its territory to discourage Russia. Romania and the other Eastern European countries do not seem to be attracted by this idea. Former head of the General Staff of the Romanian Army, General (r) Stefan Dănilă explains, in an interview for “Adevărul”, which would be the correct decision in this case.

Romania has not yet requested at least nuclear weapons on its own territory. Photo: Shutterstock

The war between Israel and Iran consumed a new stage earlier this month. An occasion for a whole world to surprise with surprise that the famous Israeli anti -aircraft defense system, Iron Dome, was exceeded by the not necessarily modern missiles. In parallel, not far from the borders of Romania, Russia tries to crush the Ukrainian defense. Net inferior in all chapters, Kiev troops point out unexpectedly better in a chapter. Ukrainian drones harass and hit quite often on the territory of Russia, theoretically protected by advanced antierial defense systems.

Poland requires nuclear weapons, Romania hesitates

Between the two wars, not at all, however, Poland has asked several times to the United States and France to move nuclear weapons on its territory. The reason is of course to discourage a hypothetical attack from the East, most likely from the direction of Russia. But there is also a counter -exam: Spain. While all NATO member states have agreed to the latest alliance summit that they have to increase their defense expenses and reach 5% of GDP allocated, Madrid refuses to comply. Faced with serious economic problems, Spain led by socialist prime minister Pedro Sanchez prefers to direct the money to the economy.

Generals and military strategies keep an eye on the two wars and take notes. The achievements of each party and their failures have not escaped the eyes of military analysts, and each tries to draw their own conclusions.

Former chief “Adevărul” of the General Staff of the Romanian Army, General (r) Stefan Dănilă explains, in an analysis for “Adevărul”, where Romania is, how they should prepare in the case of a hypothetical attack and to what extent the Polish example should take.

Why some allies are more aware and others totally careless

“The geographical position of Spain allows him to look at things much more relaxed than the Eastern or even northern states, which are close to the Polar Circle and feel more in danger of threatening the Russian Federation. For Spain it is not the same as for Romania, Bulgaria, Poland or even Hungary. Here it is another geographical position. the budget. Protective infrastructure, that is, the population and even genistic arrangements for the situation of a direct confrontation with enemy forces ”says the general.

General Stefan Dănilă. Photo: Facebook

If countries like Spain allow themselves to be more relaxed, Poland or Baltic countries do not have this luxury. Gradually, these states have even more reasons than Romania to strengthen their defense, given that they have common borders with Russia, which is not the case of Romania.

“The fact that Poland and the Baltic countries have a common border, meaning they have a terrestrial border with the Russian Federation impose some supplementary genius works at least, defensive works, different from what we should do. Romania must support as much as Ukraine can. the Poles ”says General Stefan Dănilă.

Where we are vulnerable

In contrast, the former head of the General Staff of the Romanian Army believes that Romania must prepare to reject any attack in the coastal area, but also in the case of an air attack. In addition, the fact that not even Israel has a 100% secure ballistic missile shield shows that Romania, but also other European states, has to work a lot in this chapter.

“We must take different measures to Poles or Baltic, that is, organize the coastal defense, the defense with rockets and coastal artillery and the defense against a air attack. We are vulnerable and we, as well as the other states of proximity, to an aerial attack.he explains.

The most serious, Romania is completely vulnerable in the case of a nuclear attack.
“The greatest risk to us It's a nuclear attack. In front of a nuclear attack, unfortunately we have not yet started any plan, training program and population, but especially for infrastructure preparation”, Says the general.

Regarding the example of Poland, the country that has already requested the US and France to move nuclear weapons on its territory, Romania has a decision depending on the assessments that should be made. Basically, it would be a double -edged decision, because Romania would become even more a target for countries like Russia. And under the conditions in which Romania has only two functional patriotic systems of 7, as much as necessary, the situation is complicated.

“An evaluation and political evaluation must be made, but a very serious evaluation of the benefits of such a decision. The nuclear umbrella does not mean that you are defended by nuclear means. The nuclear umbrella, as described by the nuclear powers, is actually a nuclear discouragement. In other words, if they are hit nuclear, I hit my turn. But in the conditions in which we had nuclear means on the territory of your state, those means of launching nuclear missiles would be priority. So first, you become a target for nuclear appeal of the opponent”, General Dănilă points out.

What I risk

Romania does not currently have its own defense shield against ballistic missiles, even if there is a shield from Deveselu. But this shield belongs to the US and was built to intercept Iranian missiles that would hit the American bases in Europe. In fact, no other country in Europe did not offer to host the US or France nuclear weapons on its own territory.

“To assume to have means of nuclear discouragement in the national territory would suppose to have protection systems for air blows, at nuclear blows. In order to decide to host nuclear weapons on our territory, we should have a defense shield against ballistic missiles. But we have to say it, we don't have that! On the territory of Romania there are elements of protection against ballistic missiles, but it is a system of protection against American ballistic missiles, which does not defend our territory. And then we need to know what we have to do. If we are not aware of what we can do, then we cannot take such a risk. Probably the Poles have several defense systems. SSAU wants to position nuclear means under the conditions in which it provides protection against air blows or against nuclear blows with their own means or supported by other states ”emphasizes the general.

Basically, the shield from Deveselu would defend us too little about an attack from Russia. And not because the Americans would not want to defend us, but the shield was built for a completely different purpose.

“There is at Deveselu the system of launching rockets against ballistic missiles that counteract ballistic missiles that would be launched from the proximity of Romania, from the Middle East or from a distance of 500 km from us. But they cannot ensure the protection of Romania because they should intercept the ballistic missiles on the climbing branch.”explains the general.

What should we be safe

Romania would need in this case of patriotic systems, but not only that. As the war between Israel and Iran has proven it, very powerful missile interception systems are needed.

“There are patriotic systems that also have defense against ballistic missiles. In addition, we need Thaad systems. It's all American systems, produced by the same company. Thaad systems are currently placed in Japan, South Korea. And they are very expensive, but not only that. When we talk about a technology of such level, we must not accept the United States. Among the elegible states for Thaad, and from what I know, no effort has been made for this.General Stefan Dănilă also explains.

The good news is, the general says, that we can rely on our allies, NATO and the strategic partnership with the US.

“The United States agreed to conclude with Romania a strategic partnership for the 21st century. It is a great achievement for Romania to have such a document and we can only hope to be kept in force by President Trump. For now I have not seen problems in this regard, there were no messages that the United States would not withdraw or that I have not been in the case of Romania. No warning from the other side in this regard. warns General Stefan Dănilă.