The North-Atlantic Alliance has transformed a Romanian brigade into a multinational one in order to strengthen the NATO presence in South-Eastern Europe.
The first multinational brigade on the south-eastern flank of the North-Atlantic Alliance was declared combat-ready on Thursday, after more than two years of training and live-fire drills held at the Cincu shooting range in Brasov county, in the centre. The brigade is based in southern Romania and comprises, besides the so-called Red Scorpions from Craiova, military from ten other allied states.
Over 1,800 military backed by around 250 pieces of technical equipment have taken part in an exercise called Scorpions Fury 2018, aimed at assessing the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South East. The exercise involved both the military of this brigade and other types of forces, including aircraft. The operation was carried out by specialists from the General Staff of the Ground Forces and the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South East and monitored by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Lieutenant General Paolo Ruggiero, Deputy Commander of Allied Land Command, said making the Multinational Brigade combat-ready is an important step towards consolidating the deterrence capacity and the defence presence in this sensitive area, namely the south-eastern flank of the Alliance and the Black Sea area. The Headquarters Multinational Brigade South East in Craiova was based on the 2nd Rovine Brigade and its mission is to ensure both the training of subordinated structures and the control of Article 5-type NATO operations and collective defence, in order to contribute to territorial security on the south-eastern flank and the Black Sea area.
The Chief of the Romanian Defence Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca, said the south-eastern flank of the Alliance is an area of strategic and major importance. He welcomed the fact that ten other allied nations contributed experienced troops to the brigade, allowing it to meet NATO standards and requirements.
According to the Romanian defence minister Mihai Fifor, Romania has again demonstrated that it remains a pillar of stability on the NATO eastern flank and in the Black Sea region. It also demonstrated that it is aware of both the strategic advantages of its NATO membership, the world's most powerful political and military alliance, as well as the obligations that come with this membership, the minister also said.
Romania last year began to allocate 2% of its GDP to defence, something it will continue to do until 2026, according to the defence ministry.
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