Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank, a priority

Romania pleads once again for strengthening the eastern flank of the Alliance

Leyla Cheamil, 16.05.2022, 11:10

Consolidating the eastern
flank of NATO is, in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a priority
for the members of the organisation. At an informal meeting of the NATO foreign
ministers in Berlin, the Romanian diplomacy chief Bogdan Aurescu emphasised the
importance of the long-term consolidation of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture
on the eastern flank, particularly at the Black Sea, in a balanced and unified
manner.

Minister Aurescu said the decision
made by the Allied leaders at their Summit on 24 March, concerning the set-up
of 4 new battle groups, one of them in Romania, is an especially useful first
step in this respect, and thanked the Allied states involved. The talks in
Berlin concerned NATO’s open door policy, the war in Ukraine and its impact on
Euro-Atlantic security. Bogdan Aurescu said Romania was in favour of a quick
accession of Finland and Sweden to the organisation, and pointed out that the 2
countries’ membership will consolidate the Alliance as a whole, making it
stronger.

On the one hand, Romania
is a firm supporter of the open-door policy, which has many benefits for the entire
Alliance, and we know, from our own experience, how important it was for
reforming Romania,ˮ the foreign minister said. At the same time, he added, Bucharest
feels that the accession of these 2 states will consolidate the Alliance on the
whole and we believe that, with Finland and Sweden members of the Alliance, the
deterrence posture will be more efficient and defence more consolidated.ˮ

Another topic approached
at the Berlin meeting was the preparation of the decisions to be made at the
Madrid Summit at the end of June, and during the working session the Romanian
official pointed out that with these decisions, the Madrid Summit is likely to
be a fundamental milestone in the history of the Alliance.

Bogdan Aurescu highlighted that the new strategic concept to be endorsed by NATO
leaders at the end of June, will define the Alliance’s profile and major lines
of action for the next decade at least. He also emphasised the importance of this
strategic document taking into account, in a realistic and adequate manner, the
new security context facing the organisation, by highlighting the main threats
and challenges and ensuring an efficient and proportionate response capacity. Minister
Aurescu also said the new strategic concept should reflect the fact that Russia
remains the main challenge for the Alliance. (A.M.P.)