Romania celebrates 18 years of NATO membership

Romania became a member of the North Atlantic Alliance 18 years ago.

Leyla Cheamil, 30.03.2022, 14:00

18
years ago on 29th
March, Romania officially became a NATO member when it deposited the
instruments of ratification with the US State Department, which is
the depository of the North Atlantic Treaty. Established in 1949, the
organisation has as its main objective the application of a defence
system against external attacks.

In
a statement issued on Romania’s anniversary of 18 years of NATO
membership, the country’s president Klaus Iohannis underlined the
importance of the status of NATO member, which, he said, is all
the more evident in the current special security context generated by
the illegal military aggression of the Russian Federation against
Ukraine. Iohannis also said in his statement that this aggression
once more highlighted the Alliance’s capacity to adapt quickly and
act promptly and efficiently, owing to the cohesion between member
states and unified decision making. He
went on to say that Romania has been and continues to be deeply
involved in NATO’s adaptation, both
through substantial contributions to the reflection processes taking
place in an allied framework and through
constant efforts on a
national level.

President
Iohannis reiterated that Romania would act towards strengthening its
defence capacity, including by increasing defence spending from 2 to
2.5%
of GDP, the modernisation of its forces, adaption to the legislative
framework in the field of security and defence and other appropriate
measures. Bucharest will
also continue to promote the partnership between NATO and the
European Union, and will remain a strong ally, a provider of security
in the Black Sea region and a determined supporter of the
consolidation of the trans-Atlantic relationship, as well as firmly
committed to the fundamental values of the North Atlantic Alliance,
the Romanian president also said.

Prime
minister Nicolae
Ciucă said NATO is the strongest security guarantee for Romania in
what he said was a dangerous context created by the Russian
aggression in Ukraine. The
appreciation expressed over time from the other allied states
confirms the trust enjoyed by Romania within the Alliance and the
high level of training, commitment and courage of Romanian army
professionals, Ciucă
also
pointed out.

The
defence minister Vasile Dîncu also issued a statement on Romania’s
anniversary of 18 years of NATO membership saying his country would
increase its arms production, including drones and mini-submarines in
a few years’ time. We will manufacture drones in Romania, as
well as mini-submarines, weapons and some armoured vehicles, he
said, adding that maintenance units for F16 aircraft already exist,
such as those in Bacău, in the east of the country. The minister
said Parliament will probably approve next year an increase in GDP
defence spending and that the strategic document Romania’s Army
2040 already includes a list of acquisitions. (CM)