In the context of MARCOM delegation's visit in Romania, the Minister of National Defence, Gabriel Beniamin Les, had a bilateral meeting with Vice Admiral Clive C. C. Johnstone, Commander of the Allied Maritime Command, on Thursday, February 2.

The talks agenda focused on the recent developments of the regional and international security environment, the steps taken to consolidate the allied deterrence and defence posture as well as the forward allied presence on the eastern flank, mainly in the maritime field.

The two officials reiterated the importance of the Black Sea for the Alliance, as a zone of special interest for the European and Euro-Atlantic security and stressed the importance of the ships and allied capacities' presence in the region with a view to conducting a consistent program of exercises with naval forces of the riverine allies. They also discussed the strategic significance and the goals of Sea Shild 17 exercise, conducted over February1 to 10, involving 2800 troops, 16 ships, one submarine and 10 aircraft.

Minister Les spoke of the implementation stage of the decisions taken at NATO Summit in Warsaw, especially those concerning the credible and persistent NATO presence on our territory and at the Black Sea, as an essential element of consolidating the allied posture of deterrence and defence. The minister also informed on the stage of the initiatives promoted by Romania in the field and asked for MARCOM's concrete support in forwarding the specific elements to achieve the forward presence in the maritime field.

MARCOM Commander thanked for the substantial contribution of our country to the efforts of the alliance in the maritime field and stressed the importance of the regional expertise on the Black Sea in order to maintain and develop NATO's posture of deterrence and defence, in agreement with the decisions made in Warsaw.
The Romanian minister of defence reaffirmed the pledge to meet the obligations Romania has in all important topics on NATO agenda, based on the national decision to ensure the necessary funds to modernize and consolidate the defence capabilities.

On the same day, Vice Amiral Johnstone met with General Nicolae Ciuca, the chief of General Staff. They discussed identifying ways to consolidate the allied maritime security, the participation of the Romanian Navy to NATO-led multinational military exercises and ways of diversifying cooperation within the Alliance through the participation of ships of NATO and partner countries in exercises organized by Romania at the Black Sea.

Press Department