Romanian president backs stronger European defence role, argues for US systems procurement

Esencja artykułu w punktach.

• 01Romanian president Nicușor Dan said Europe must assume a greater share of responsibility for its own defence while reaffirming Romania’s commitment to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, in an opinion article published by Fox News on August 27.
• 02Romania has committed to reaching defence spending of 5% of GDP by 2035, according to Dan, who said the country was prepared to increase both the scale and pace of its commitments to NATO and its strategic partnership with the US.
• 03At Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, the country has launched a EUR 2.5-3 billion (USD 2.9-3.5 billion) programme to expand and modernise the facility, Dan said.
• 04He added that Romania’s armed forces were being modernised largely around US defence systems, including Patriot air-defence systems, HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, F-16 fighter aircraft and Abrams tanks.
• 05The president said he had recently sent Romania’s national security adviser and Chief of Defence to the US to discuss the redistribution of responsibilities within NATO and Bucharest’s commitment to a deeper strategic partnership with Washington.
• 06Dan said the procurement of US-made systems was intended to ensure interoperability with US and NATO platforms and strengthen Romania’s ability to contribute to collective defence.
• 07Dan said Romania was not asking the United States to do more for its defence, but was prepared to increase its own contribution.