Romania as a NATO Member
Russia has warned Romania, for the second time in a week, that the decision to strengthen the NATO presence on its territory undermines regional stability at the Black Sea.
România Internațional, 09.04.2015, 14:17
Romania is a reliable NATO ally, and NATO defends all its allies against any threat, is the response of the North-Atlantic Alliance to the new warnings that Russia sent to Bucharest. The spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich has criticised, for the second time in a week, the Romanian authorities’ decision regarding a build-up of NATO forces in Romania. According to Lukashevich, the Romanian leaders turn the country into yet another US and NATO base near Russian borders, and are “ready, for tactical purposes, to sacrifice the interests of maintaining stability in the Black Sea region.”
In response, the NATO deputy spokesperson Carmen Romero said that Russia’s allegations are ungrounded, provocative and inappropriate. She explained that the Alliance’s decision to increase its military presence in Eastern Europe is NATO’s response to Russia’s aggressive moves in Ukraine. Moscow breached international laws and its commitments under the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Romero added.
The Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta welcomed NATO’s response, which clearly underlines the decision of the Alliance to protect its members against any form of aggression. He reiterated that Romania is a reliable NATO partner and will not be intimidated by the aggressive statements made by the Russian diplomacy. Bucharest condemns the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation in neighbouring Ukraine, Ponta added. He explained that Romania is a NATO Member State and will only make decisions that it believes to be right and in line with its national security interests and the interests of the North-Atlantic Alliance. The Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu also posted a statement saying that NATO’s reaction to the warning of the Russian Foreign Ministry accurately reflects Romania’s views.
This is not the first time that Moscow criticises Bucharest. Last Thursday, the same Russian Foreign Ministry official said Romania must be aware of the “responsibility and consequences” of strengthening the NATO presence within its borders. Lukashevich criticised the bill passed by the Romanian Government concerning the stationing, transit and operations of foreign armed forces on its territory. Romania’s decision to have the military base in Deveselu host components of the American missile defence system, developed under the NATO umbrella, was also repeatedly criticised by Moscow, although both Romanian and NATO officials stressed that the anti-missile shield project is purely defensive and does not target Russia.
