The Minister of National Defence, Mihnea Motoc, received the Head of the National Security Bureau of Poland, Pawel Soloch, at the defence ministry, on Thursday, November 17, during the latter's official visit in Romania.

The agenda focused on the capitalization of bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and defence in the context of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and Poland, with focus on the common priorities within the Alliance and the European Union, with a view to implementing the decisions made at the Summit in Warsaw and the EU Global Strategy.

The two officials analyzed the recent developments in the regional security context and pointed out the importance of coordinating efforts in order to achieve the NATO forward tailored presence along the entire Eastern flank of the alliance, as the main part of strengthening NATO deterrence and defence posture.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the Black Sea for the security of the entire Alliance, Minister Motoc talked of the importance to consolidate the allied presence on the national territory and in the region. He emphasized that Romania endorses the enhanced forward presence in Poland and the Blatic States, including a concrete contribution with forces at company level to the Battle Group that will be rendered operational in Poland under US coordination. The Polish official reconfirmed his country's endorsement of Romania's initiatives related to the southern dimension of the same flank, at ground, air and maritime level. He reiterated the commitment to participate with a company in rendering operational the Multinational Brigade in Romania and with air capabilities in the Air Police Missions to be conducted in our region in 2017.

Minister Motoc and the Polish official agreed on the usefulness of the consultations between the two countries on the main topics on NATO and EU agenda.

Both sides restated the importance they give to a solid and durable transatlantic connection.

Press Department