Romania. The Eastern Flank

Romania has increased the number of militaries as part of NATO battle groups of the Alliance’s eastern flank.

Eugen Nasta, 22.01.2025, 14:00

Beginning January 2025, Romania has expanded its presence, in terms of number of military and capabilities, to two more NATO battle groups that have been operational in the allied countries as part of NATO’s eastern flank. The Romanian army has sent an anti-tank detachment in Slovakia and a reconnaissance unit in Bulgaria. Concurrently, Romania has continued its participation to the battle group in Poland, with an anti-aircraft detachment.

As part of NATO’s Summit held in Madrid in 2022, the decision was taken, of establishing multinational battle groups in Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary, as part of the strengthening of the joint defense measures along the North-Atlantic Alliance’s Eastern Flank. Those battle groups have been founded after the pattern of those in the Baltic States and Poland which were established after the allied Summit held in Warsaw in 2016.

The battle group in Slovakia is coordinated by Spain and includes military of the Czech Republic, Portugal, Romania and Slovenia. In Bulgaria, the battle group is coordinated by Italy, with contributions from Albania, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey and the USA.

The expansion of Romania’s contribution to the implementation of the allied measures of deterrence and defense has completed the presence of Romanian military to the battle group in Poland, where the Romanian Army has been participating since 2017. Romania’s presence to the North-Atlantic Alliance’s Battle Groups stands proof of Romania’s unwavering commitment for the strengthening of the collective defense along the Eastern Flank.

NATO Battle Group in Romania has France as its framework-nation. The contributor states are Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain. Romania’s battle group, alongside the battle group in Bulgaria are under the coordination of the Commander of the Headquarters of the Multinational Division South-East in Bucharest.
The 360-degree approach in the field of defense and deterrence, implemented by NATO, has as its eventual aim the provision of collective security, It defines the Alliance’s three main tasks: deterrence and defense, the prevention and the management of crises and security through cooperation.
At present, Romania contributes to maintaining the regional and global security with more than 1,000 military.

Romania also takes part in some of the European Union’s missions and operations. To that effect, Romania holds the command of the Training mission of the Armed Forces of the Central African Republic. Also, these days Romania will take over the command of the EUFOR ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Romania is the major contributor.

Accordingly, of the nine military operations and missions carried under the aegis of the European Union’s Common Security and Defense Policy, to which it contributes military forces and capabilities, Romanian will simultaneously have the command of two of those operations.

Security in the Black Sea region, the strengthening of the defense dimension as part of the strategic partnership between Romania and Great Britain, as well as the enhancement of cooperation within the allied structures: those were the topics on the agenda of the talks the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tâlvăr, had with the British Ambassador to Romania, His Excellency Giles Matthew Portman.

High on the talks’ agenda was the strengthening of the defense stance and deterrence along NATO’s eastern flank, with special emphasis laid on the Black Sea region, given the ongoing security challenges.

The Romanian Defense Minister emphasized Romania’s intention to continue the development of its strategic partnership with the United Kingdom through its active involvement in joint security and defense initiatives. To that effect, Angel Talvar also mentioned the support of Ukraine against Russia’s aggression and the consolidation of the support offered to republic of Moldova, with a view to strengthening stability and security in the region.