State Secretary Moldovan had high-level meetings with NATO officials

State Secretary Moldovan had high-level meetings with NATO officials

State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Sorin Dan Moldovan, had a series of meetings with military leaders and officials of the North Atlantic Alliance on Tuesday, December 2nd, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The security challenges on the Eastern Flank and Romania's contribution to strengthening the allied defence posture were the main topics of discussion.

Recent security developments in the Black Sea region and initiatives to counter asymmetric threats, especially the risks posed by Russian drones, were analyzed during the conversation with Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee.

The two officials emphasized the need to increase deterrence and defence capabilities on the Alliance's Eastern Flank, as well as the importance of implementing the NATO Eastern Sentry initiative. They also highlighted Romania's contribution to NATO missions, such as the participation in KFOR and NMI-Iraq.

During the meeting with Nicholas Catsaras, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, the Romanian official presented Romania's efforts to allocate 5% of GDP to defence by 2035, as decided at the Hague Summit. The two officials also discussed the future of NATO's defence planning process and the evolution of the armed forces' procurement and modernization programs.

The meeting with Tarja Jakkola, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments, focused on the role and ways of supporting the national defence industry in strengthening Allied capabilities. The Romanian state secretary reiterated his appreciation for the support provided in organizing the NATO Industry Forum in Bucharest, an event that the Alliance representatives described as the largest held so far. The parties agreed to continue their collaboration on the implementation of modern technologies in support of the defence and deterrence posture.

During the meeting with Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, Assistant Secretary General for Cyber and Digital Transformation, coordinator for hybrid threats, the officials stressed the need to enhance cooperation in the field of emerging and disruptive technologies, as well as the essential role of strategic communication initiatives and resilience measures against the Russian Federation's aggressive rhetoric and actions.

State Secretary Moldovan also had a meeting with Jim Stokes, NATO's Director for Nuclear Policy.

The Romanian official's meetings at the NATO headquarters emphasized the Romanian Armed Forces' strategic role within the Alliance and enhanced allied cooperation on essential topics - the security of the Eastern Flank and the Black Sea, procurement and countering hybrid threats.

The Press Office