Allied support for Ukraine
In defence, it's not about spending, but about investing, and Romania understands this, says the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr
Roxana Vasile, 24.05.2023, 13:50
EU member states have managed to supply, in just the
past few days, one-quarter of the artillery shells promised to Ukraine for the
entire year. In Tuesday’s meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels,the EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said the European
bloc provided Ukraine with some 220,000 shells and 1,300 missiles. He also said
the Union mobilised EUR 10 bln to be able to provide military support to
Ukraine, of which EUR 5.6 bln under the European Peace Facility and the balance
from the military industry and member states.
NATO also carries on ammunition deliveries. Attending
the EU meeting, the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg pointed out that,
over the past few months, Ukraine received Leopard, Challenger and Abrams heavy
tanks. The UK has sent modern long-range missiles, while other Allies, including
the US, Germany, Poland and the UK have started training Ukrainian pilots for
the F-16 aircraft to be supplied to Kyiv.
Also attending Tuesday’s meeting in Brussels, the
Romanian defence minister Angel Tîlvăr said the current context proved that the
defence budget must be increased. In this sector, there are no expenses, but
investments, and Romania has understood this, Angel Tîlvăr said:
Angel Tîlvăr: Romania’s reputation is improving
steadily, thanks to its consistency and to the fact that it understands that in
defence it’s not about spending, but about investing. And the situation today
proves that we have made the right decision when we increased the budget to 2% over
the past 6 years. And the 2.5% of GDP earmarked this year for defence enables
us to purchase or produce further equipment and high-tech capabilities able to
meet citizens’ expectations that the Army must ensure peace, predictability and
stability.
According to the defence minister Angel Tîlvăr, the
talks in Brussels revealed enhanced cohesion between the EU and NATO:
Angel Tîlvăr: The NATO secretary general taking part
in the EU meeting was important, because the discussions we had and the fact
that there were nuances in our solidarity led to enhanced cohesion in terms of
the cooperation between the European Union and NATO.
On Monday, one day before the meeting of EU defence
ministers, Brussels also hosted a meeting of the bloc’s foreign ministers. For
Romania’s diplomacy chief, Bogdan Aurescu, this was an opportunity to point out
that Romania supports uninterrupted support for Ukraine at all levels,
concurrently with further sanctions and international isolation for Russia. (AMP)
