RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Bucharest and the NATO Strategy

A neighbour of the Ukraine devastated by the clashes in the pro-Russian separatist areas, Romania is strengthening its defence system

Bucharest and the NATO Strategy
Bucharest and the NATO Strategy

, 20.05.2015, 13:12

Not far from the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, annexed last year by Moscow, Romanian and Portuguese air forces take part in joint patrol missions, including over the Black Sea. Four Portuguese F-16 fighter jets are already crossing the Romanian air space, in missions co-ordinated by the NATO Air Command based in Ramstein, Germany. Alliance officials have explained that the participation of Portuguese troops in these missions is part of the NATO measures aimed at guaranteeing the security of its eastern members, precisely against the backdrop of tensions with Russia.



In the USA, Admiral James Winnefeld, vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has announced the missile defence shield is soon to be operational. The system is designed to protect, among others, the southern NATO borders. In turn, the Romanian Defence Minister Mircea Dusa said the anti-missile shield components in Deveselu, southern Romania, would become operational this autumn, as scheduled.



Concurrently with the military moves, the West carries on its diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the region. NATO has once again urged Russia to pull out all troops and heavy weapons from eastern Ukraine. In a meeting in Brussels between the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg and the Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, the former called for more transparency in the many operations conducted this year by Russian troops. Previously, NATO had announced that Brussels opened telephone lines for emergency communication with Russia. This is, according to analysts, a step towards rebuilding the ties that had been loosened last year in the context of the Ukrainian crisis.



Also taking part in the meeting in Brussels was the chief of staff of the Republic of Moldova, Gen. Igor Gorgan, who attended the meetings of the EU Military Committee and the NATO Military Committee and had talks with his Romanian and Ukrainian counterparts, Nicolae Ciuca and Viktor Mujenko respectively. Located between Romania and Ukraine, and facing its own pro-Russian breakaway tendencies in Transdniester, in the east, the Republic of Moldova looks to the West for security guarantees.



In Tuesdays talks in Bucharest with his Moldovan counterpart Viorel Cibotaru, the Defence Minister Mircea Dusa reiterated Romanias willingness to provide technical and material assistance to strengthen Moldovas defence capabilities. Romania is therefore determined to act not only as a beneficiary, but also as a provider of security for a neighbouring country with which it has close ties and for whose EU accession it has always pleaded.

Marcel Ciolacu (sursa foto: gov.ro)
Today in the News Tuesday, 31 December 2024

Fiscal and budgertary measures at the end of the year

In the last meeting of this year, the Bucharest Government adopted an emergency ordinance on the basis of which the state budget for 2025 will be...

Fiscal and budgertary measures at the end of the year
Photo: jarmoluk / pixabay.com
Today in the News Monday, 30 December 2024

End-of-year concerns in Romania

One in four Romanians is unhappy with their lives and a similar percentage say they didn’t have a single reason for great joy this year, according...

End-of-year concerns in Romania
Maia Sandu (Photo: presedinte.md)
Today in the News Friday, 27 December 2024

Maia Sandu begins second term as president

Maia Sandu has begun her second mandate as president of the Republic of Moldova, which she obtained following the autumn election. Sandu was sworn in...

Maia Sandu begins second term as president
The Ciolacu was sworn in / Photo: presidency.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 24 December 2024

Romania has a new Government

The new Government in Bucharest was voted in by the Parliament.   The new Government of Romania, led by the Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu, took...

Romania has a new Government
Today in the News Monday, 23 December 2024

35 years since the anti-Communist Revolution in Romania

35 years have passed since Timişoara became the first city free from communism in Romania, a moment that triggered a wave of protests which would...

35 years since the anti-Communist Revolution in Romania
Today in the News Friday, 20 December 2024

Economic effects of political instability

The deadlock related to the establishment of a parliamentary majority to propose a prime minister and, therefore, the impossibility of forming a new...

Economic effects of political instability
Today in the News Friday, 20 December 2024

Conclusions of the Winter European Summit

The EU heads of state and government gathered in Brussels to discuss the war in Ukraine, migration, the situation in the Middle East, the Republic of...

Conclusions of the Winter European Summit
Today in the News Thursday, 19 December 2024

The EU and the exposure to disinformation

Attending the EU-Western Balkans summit and the European Council in Brussels, the Romanian president Klaus Iohannis said Romania was confronted with...

The EU and the exposure to disinformation

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company