Romania’s Supreme Defence Council discusses the Black Sea and Afghanistan

Russia's increasingly unpredictable behaviour and pull-out of Romanian troops from Afghanistan dominated Tuesday meeting of Romanias Supreme Defence Council.

Bogdan Matei, 28.04.2021, 14:00

Frequently defined as an umbrella entity for national security and
public order institutions, the Country’s Supreme Defence Council on Tuesday discussed
hot topical issues in a meeting called by president Klaus Iohannis. As a NATO outpost on the eastern flank, Romania is concerned about the
recent massing of Russian troops on Ukraine’s eastern border. Although Moscow
announced the end of manoeuvres and the return of the troops to their units, the
Romanian authorities remain vigilant and will continue to monitor this unjustified
mobilisation around Ukraine. The Council also said that the retreat of troops does
not change the need the continue to analyse the causes that led to this tense situation
and to identify measures to de-escalate and ease the tension, as well to
prevent similar situations in the future.

In this context, Romania reiterates the need for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of the neighbouring Ukraine to be respected within its internationally
recognised borders. Within a bigger picture, Romania stands for solutions to be
found to the protracted conflicts around the Black Sea, and the Romanian
foreign service has made a few proposals to this end at European Union level,
reads a statement from the president’s office published after the meeting of
the Country’s Supreme Defence Council. Commentators note that all these conflicts
have one thing in common: Russia’s interference in some of the former Soviet
republics which it still views as part of its sphere of influence.

The same thing happened in the region of Transnistria, in the east of
the Republic of Moldova, which de facto broke away with this majority Romanian-speaking
country in 1992 in the wake of an armed conflict in which hundreds were killed
and which only came to an end after the intervention of the Russian troops on
the side of the separatists. Georgia is another example, where there is already
a project to create a common economic area between Russia and the break-away region
of Abkhazia. With Moscow’s support, Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from
Georgia and in 2008 Russia recognised Abkhazia’s unilaterally proclaimed independence.
It all culminated in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and
the fuelling of an armed rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

Going back to Tuesday’s meeting of Romania’s Supreme Defence Council,
the Council announced that Romania would pull out its troops from Afghanistan
in coordination with the other NATO members, beginning on 1st May.
All its 615 military and over 80 tonnes of equipment and logistics will be flown
back on Romanian and coalition aircraft. 27 Romanian soldiers were killed during
Romania’s anti-terrorist mission in Afghanistan, which was launched shortly
after the 9/11 attacks on the US. These soldiers and others who fell in the
line of duty were commemorated on 27th April on National War Veterans
Day. (CM)