Romania and International Security
Next year, 1,364 Romanian troops will take action as part of the NATO-led international coalition forces on international theatres of operation.
Valentin Țigău, 05.08.2013, 14:15
351 less Romanian troops will be deployed in Afghanistan, as a direct consequence of the international forces’ withdrawal from that country, to start in 2014.
A transfer of authority has been made in Afghanistan between the 32nd Infantry Battalion (the Yellow Scorpions), which returns to Romania, and the 151st Infantry Battalion (the Black Wolves), which started a 6 month mission in the Zabul province. This is the third mission carried out by the Black Wolves in Afghanistan. They will be the only manoeuvre battalion to take action as part of the US First Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, (“Duke” Brigade).
Their commander, lieutenant-colonel Sergiu Mungiu, sums up the mission of the Romanian troops: “First of all, we will try, alongside the local authorities to support the locals in an effort to improve their living standards and to help the local population lead a decent life in Afghanistan. We should also contribute to developing the capabilities of the Afghan Police, in order to be able to independently carry out patrol and fighting missions. The main goals we have set for ourselves during this mission are broadly the following: we want to successfully complete the mission we have been assigned and to return home healthy and without casualties. ”
The Romanian military will permanently work together with the Afghan military, just like before, transferring expertise on the functioning of the human resources department, logistics, ways to keep in good conditions and repair the military vehicles and technology used by the Afghan military during their missions in the Zabul province, as well as how to use transmission and communication equipment. However, the timetable set by Romania’s Higher Defence Council provides for the start of withdrawing Romanain Army troops from Afghanistan next year. In the past 11 years, since it started carrying out patrol missions in Afghanistan, as part of the NATO troops, the Romanian Army lost 20 military in the line of duty. Apart from the withdrawal process, there is much talk on the necessity to support the national Afghan army, after the completion of the NATO mission, in late 2014.
A report drawn up by the Pentagon draws attention to the fact that the complete withdrawal option, backed by the White House, puts in jeopardy the progress made by Afghanistan’s national army, underlining that the Afghan army will need counselling and support, financial assistance included, for a long period of time, post 2014. However, keeping some military, including 200 Romanian military troops in Afghanistan, after 2014, is conditioned by the conclusion of intergovernmental agreements. Proof of the fact that terrorism continues to be a threat to mankind is the recent decision by the US, France, Germany and the United Kingdom to temporarily close their embassies in conflict areas in Africa and Asia.
