Romanian and Spanish Defence Ministers visit Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base

Romanian and Spanish Defence Ministers visit Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base

On Wednesday, September 16, Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruță, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, had an official meeting with Margarita Robles, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Spain, and the Spanish Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Teodoro López Calderón, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base.

The discussions focused on the status of bilateral relations, the current security situation in the region, and cooperation opportunities within NATO and the EU.

The Romanian official expressed his gratitude for Spain's contribution to strengthening security in the Black Sea region, an effort amplified following drone incidents recorded over the recent months. At the same time, Minister Miruță congratulated his counterpart on the professionalism of the Spanish military pilots, and highlighted their direct contribution to Air Policing missions in Romania and, specifically, the interception and downing of an aerial drone on August 1, this year.

Furthermore, Radu Miruță has emphasized the importance of the presence of the Spanish troops within the French-led NATO Battlegroup Romania, and has stressed that this commitment is essential for our country as the security situation in the Black Sea region remains complex and volatile.

The two ministers reaffirmed the need to continue providing multidimensional support to Ukraine, including through the EU Military Assistance Mission and European instruments aimed at supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities.

The officials also discussed the contributions of Romania and Spain to European Union missions and operations under the aegis of Common Security and Defence Policy, and focused on developments in the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as initiatives targeting maritime security. Additionally, EU contributions through the European Peace Facility (EPF) were highlighted, along with the need for the progressive connection of the Republic of Moldova to the relevant European initiatives.

In conclusion, the two ministers agreed on the continued strengthening of the political-military dialogue, with a view to exploring bilateral and European cooperation opportunities, as well as developing defence capacity and national and Euro-Atlantic resilience.

The Press Office