The Minister of National Defence, Mihnea Motoc, met with H.E. Hans Klemm, the US Ambassador to Bucharest, at the defence ministry, Friday, December 18.

The talks approached the main topics on the agenda of the bilateral defence cooperation, within the context of the Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st century between Romania and the United States of America. The officials discussed the implementation of reassurance measures for Romania by the US initiatives in the field, cooperation in the theater of operations of Afghanistan and subjects related to the agenda of the future Summit in Warsaw in 2016, in terms of the strategic adaptation of the Alliance.

The meeting took place on the same day when the technical capability of the Aegis Ashore was announced at Deveselu. Minister Motoc appreciated the open and pragmatic way the RomanianAmerican dialogue was conducted in implementing the Bilateral Agreement in the field. He also pointed out that Romania fully met its commitments in this project. The complex character of the current security environment was brought into discussion, mainly the developments in the extended Black Sea region.

The Romanian defence minister emphasized the essential role played by the USA in consolidating the security of our country and of the eastern flank of the Alliance, by implementing the specific initiatives European Reassurance Initiative and European Activity Set, also by intensifying the program of joint exercises conducted on our territory.

With a view to NATO Summit of July 2016, they discussed the shared interest for the long-term adaptation of the Alliance, with a focus on the Black Sea region and an efficient deterrance and defence posture, based on a robust allied presence on NATO's eastern flank.

MoND Press Office