A clear beneficiary and also constant
\ncontributor to NATO’s collective defense system, Romania has eight priority
\narmy equipment programs, which need to be covered by the 2% of the GDP
\nearmarked for defense until 2026. One of these programs focuses on the purchase
\nof Patriot defense missile systems, as the Defense Minister Adrian Tutuianu
\nannounced after talks with the Economy Minister Mihai Fifor and the Prime
\nMinister Mihai Tudose on the national defense industry and prospects of
\npurchasing military equipment from abroad. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here is what Adrian Tutuianu told
\nRadio Romania:<\/p>\n
We have a first
\nannouncement about an endorsement of the US Department of State, but there is a
\nlong way to go to before completing the acquisition. On the one hand, there are certain procedures to be followed in
\nthe US, such as getting the approval of the Congress, followed by negotiations
\nwith the manufacturers of these systems. On the other hand, the Romanian side
\nneeds to conduct an assessment of the technical characteristics of a prospective
\nfinancial offer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
According to
\nMinister Tutuianu, this acquisition program will strengthen Romania’s defense
\ncapability, will consolidate NATO’s eastern border and also strengthen and
\ndevelop the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US, which was signed
\n20 years ago. The estimated cost incurred by the purchase of Patriot missiles,
\nincluding technical support and equipment, stands at 3.9 billion dollars. The
\nUS Department of State has already endorsed the potential sale. According to a
\ncommuniqu\u00e9 issued by the Romanian Defense Ministry, the US Ambassador to
\nRomania Hans Klemm has congratulated the Romanian authorities for this
\ndecision. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Military analysts say that another NATO member from eastern Europe,
\nPoland, has already purchased Patriot defense missile systems and that a
\nbattery of similar interceptors has been installed in Lithuania to take part in
\nallied military drills these days. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Earmarking 2% of the DGP for defense is the
\nresult of an agreement reached by all parliamentary parties, whose signing was
\nsupervised by President Klaus Iohannis, and which does not only concern the
\ncurrent government made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of
\nLiberals and Democrats. The Save Romania Union (USR), in the opposition, has
\nannounced its firm support for the country’s pro-NATO policy and for the
\nconsolidation of its defense capabilities by means of proper investment. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Romania’s NATO membership and the Strategic Partnership with the US are vital
\nfor national security against the background of a difficult European context,
\nmarked by uncertainties about Brexit and the Russian threat in the EU
\nneighborhood, the Save Romania Union states in a release. On the ground, around
\n25 thousand Romanian and allied soldiers are taking part these days in the most
\ncomprehensive military exercise held in modern Romania. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The agenda of the Bucharest Government includes costly acquisitions that are crucial for national defense<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":73268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[13794,39005,39006],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-74245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-nato","tag-patriot-missile-acquisition","tag-romanian-defense-minister-adrian-tutuianu"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n