The Annual Report on the activity of the Romanian Land Forces in 2015 was presented Tuesday, February 16. The meeting was attended by defence minister Mihnea Motoc, Councillor of State Sebastian Huluban, the chief of General Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca, other military and civilian officials.

The chief of Land Forces Staff, Major General Dumitru Scarlat, presented how the Land Forces met their goals in 2015 and the priorities for year 2016.

Major General Scarlat spoke mainly of the participation of the over 1,000 troops in missions abroad, in about 70 major national and multinational exercises as well as in interventions in support of the population.

The chief of Land Forces Staff pointed out that another important goal of 2015 was to improve the performance of the main categories of military vehicles (tanks, amphibious armoured carriers, Infantry armoured carriers) by repair and maintenance works made in the facilities of the national defence industry.

Minister Mihnea Motoc spoke highly of the Land Forces activity, especially their participation in theaters of operations and highlighted the contribution of the Land Forces Staff to render operational the two NATO command and control structures established in Romania.

'The process of rethinking the military and strategic posture of the Alliance of deterrence and defence needs credible military capabilities, with proper equipment and well trained troops. Budgeting plays an important role in the process, this year's defence budget representing a first step to reach the proposed level of 2 percent of the GDP in 2017, the defence minister added.

Mihnea Motoc briefed the Land Forces on the strategic priorities of MoND (aligning the military structure and resources with the best NATO practices, consolidating Romania's presence in NATO, acquiring/upgrading military equipment and increasing military personnel welfare).

Press Department