The meeting of the Romania- American High-Level Defence Group took place in Bucharest, Wednesday, November 18. It was chaired by the State Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning, Valeriu Nicut, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, James Townsend.

The agenda included talks on topics of mutual interest, such as recent developments ofn the extended strategic environment, especially the security situation in the proximity of Romania; the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan; counter-measures to the Islamic State (ISIL); defence-related Romanian-American bilateral cooperation; defence planning and procurement, with reference to the latest developments of the defence planning process.

An informal working session was dedicated to topics related to NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016, with focus on the Readiness Action Plan for an increased readiness of NATO and the strategic adaptation of the Alliance to the new security environment.

The two delegations highlighted the complexity of the present security context, also related to the recent terrorist actions in France, the privileged nature of the bilateral relations, the dynamism of the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership and the perspectives of intensifying defence-related cooperation, as essential elements for the security of the region Romania is part of.

Mention was made of the major support the USA offers to the states on NATO Eastern flank, as part of allied assurance and adaptation measures.

MoND Press Office