Romania and national defense
Romania is interested in contributing to the European Union security and defense strategy.
Roxana Vasile, 05.07.2017, 12:06
Romania wants to take part in the European Union security and defense strategy. The topic ranked high on Tuesday’s agenda of the Supreme Defense Council meeting. According to President Klaus Iohannis, who chaired the meeting, in the first phase the strategy focuses on military research, to see how Europe’s defense industry can be improved and how national armies can cooperate closer together.
Klaus Iohannis: “I want to recall the discussion about a multi-speed Europe, which is out of the question right now. We are talking about projects that remain open for everyone who likes and is able to take part in them. When it comes to the security of our external borders and citizens, Romania is willing to join any such effort”.
On the other hand, the Council adopted the number of troops and equipment used by the Interior Ministry that can be deployed for missions outside Romania. President Iohannis explains:
“The number of available troops has been raised to 1,793 people for the defense Ministry and 971 people for the Interior Ministry, both military and civilian, which can be used in external missions. This is the cap we set, although the actual numbers at present are lower, and will unlikely reach the cap by 2018. But we’ve all seen how fast things can change, and we want to make sure we have a comfortable amount of people whom we can rely on in case of emergency in order to supplement our troops for these missions”.
Modernizing the Romanian military will unfortunately have to wait. The national modernization program for 2017-2026 was withdrawn from Tuesday’s agenda, as the document did not provide for the allocation of 2% of Romania’s GDP to defense spending over the next ten years at least, as stipulated by an agreement signed by Parliament’s factions. Accordingly, the program will be modified and presented in a future meeting of the Supreme Defense Council. It is not Romania’s interest to spend money just on buying tanks, aircraft or ammunition, President Iohannis argues, but we should also invest in logistics. A recent road accident, which killed three military, shows once again that Romania needs basic equipment. Every day that goes by without these basic investments being made can be detrimental to national security. The driver of the military truck transporting the soldiers said the brakes failed, causing the truck to slide into a ravine. Officials have refused to comment on the state of military vehicles, which are very old and worn out.
(Translated by Vlad Palcu)
