On June 1, 2016, Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc met with US Congressman Michael Turner, who is also co-president of the Romanian Caucus of the US Congress and the President of NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The two officials discussed defence cooperation between Romanian and the USA in the framework of the bilateral Strategic Partnership and the efforts of the Alliance in preparing NATO Summit in Warsaw. They also assessed the developments of the regional security environment and mentioned the need to enhance NATO‘s defence and deterrance posture to any threats and risks to allied security.

Minister Motoc expressed his satisfaction for the excellent defence cooperation between the two countries and the commitment of the USA to augment its presence in the allied countries, along the eastern border of NATO, by implementing the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI) and also within Operation Atlantic Resolve. The minister spoke of the strategic importance of the Black Sea for regional and Euro-Atlantic security and the need of the allied forces to focus along this line. The two officials also talked of specific initiatives to enhance the allied presence along the entire Eastern border of NATO with a view to Warsaw Summit.

Congressman Turner noted the significant contribution of Romania to the development of the architecture of the Missile Defence System Aegis Ashore at Deveselu and expressed his appreciation for Romania's contribution to Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan and within the international coalition to counter ISIL.

Press Department