The Minister of National Defence, Mihnea Motoc, received US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, James J. Townsend Jr., at the defence ministry. Also present at the meeting was US Ambassador to Bucharest, Hans Klemm.

The officials discussed the security in the region, bilateral cooperation within US-Romania Strategic Partnership, the American facilities in Romania and our country's commitment to the operations in Afghanistan.

The Romanian defence minister highlighted the excellent bilateral cooperation with the USA, the latter's major support as part of the allied assurance measures on the eastern flank of NATO. They also discussed the ways to consolidate the US commitment to the American defence facilities in Romania and to intensify Navy, Air and Land Forces cooperation.

The defence minister also talked of the importance of bilateral coordination inside NATO ahead of the NATO 2016 Summit in Warsaw, with emphasis on the long-term strategic adaptation of the alliance.

In turn, the US official thanked Romania for its significant contribution inside NATO, saying that Romania is an outstanding ally. He also emphasized Romania's national contribution to NATO efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, commending the Romanian troops for their part in the counselling and assistance missions of the Afghan Security Forces.

MoND Press Office