The message sent by Radu Miruță to the Supreme Command of the Allied Forces in Europe: “We need support from the allies”
A delegation of the Ministry of National Defense, led by the Minister of National Defense, Radu Miruță, participated on Tuesday, June 2, at the headquarters of the Supreme Allied Forces in Europe (SHAPE), in Mons, Belgium, to the NATO Capability Generation Conference. In front of the military representatives of the 32 member states, the Romanian official presented “the reality facing Romania”.
Radu Mituță, at the SHAPE headquarters. PHOTO FB Radu Miruta
The Minister of Defense presented, during a special session dedicated to the security challenges on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance, details about the incident in the city of Galați, on Friday, May 29, when a Russian drone exploded on the roof of a residential building.
Radu Miruță highlighted the need to strengthen deterrence and defense measures on the Eastern Flank and requested additional contributions from the member states to strengthen allied monitoring, early warning and defense capabilities against emerging threats.
“The Minister of National Defense reaffirmed Romania's firm commitment to strengthening NATO's defense and deterrence posture and to maintaining a unified and coordinated approach to the security challenges generated by the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine” states MApN in a press release sent on Tuesday.
Radu Miruță also highlighted the increase of the national defense effort to 3.5% of the GDP and the ongoing measures for the development of military capabilities, the modernization of the endowment and the increase in the level of training of the forces.
“Time is not on anyone's side”
In this context, Romania seeks to capitalize on the cooperation and financing opportunities available at the allied and European level, including through the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument, to accelerate endowment programs, develop the national defense industry and strengthen the contribution to allied collective security, MApN explained.
“Romania is investing in its own defense, but time is not in anyone's favor and until the capabilities are delivered we need support from the allies”said Minister Miruță.
“We openly presented the way we conduct the anti-drone fight in the Dobrogea area”
According to MApN, as part of his participation in the conference, the Minister of National Defense held a series of working meetings with national military representatives accredited to SHAPE, during which the main developments in the security environment in the Black Sea region, Romania's contribution to NATO's command structures and the prospects for strengthening the allied presence on the Eastern Flank were analyzed.
Why was article 4 of NATO not activated after the Russian drone reached Romania's airspace and crashed in Galați. Minister Miruță's explanations
The Minister of Defense, at the SHAPE headquarters. PHOTO FB Radu Miruta
“Romania does not ask for help before doing everything that belongs to it. Today I went to SHAPE, in Belgium, the military headquarters of NATO that leads and coordinates the military operations of the Alliance. In front of the military representatives of the 32 member states, I presented the reality facing Romania: Russian drones that illegally enter NATO airspace and the risks they generate for our citizens. We also discussed the last incident in Galați and how the Romanians came to feel the smell of explosives brought by the Russian drones. And I have justified why I consider it legitimate that we have requested support. We have openly presented the way we are conducting the anti-drone fight in the Dobrogea area, what vulnerabilities we have identified and, above all, what measures we have taken to cover them.” Radu Miruță wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
“Discussions with the Romanian military from the command structures of the Alliance”
Also, Radu Miruță visited the Representation of the Defense Staff at SHAPE, where he held talks with the Romanian soldiers who work within the command structures of the Alliance.
“On this occasion, he appreciated the professionalism and dedication of the Romanian military personnel and highlighted their important contribution to the fulfillment of NATO missions and to the promotion of Romania's security interests within the Alliance“, MApN added.
The objectives of the NATO Capability Generation Conference are to present the status of providing capabilities according to the requirements of the NATO Force Model, as well as to increase the allies' contributions to the operations, missions and activities carried out under the auspices of the Alliance.
