The Minister of National Defence, Adrian Țutuianu, and General Nicolae Ciuca, the chief of General Staff had a meeting with the Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard (ALNG), Major General Sheryl Gordon, at the defence ministry HQ, on Monday, August 7, during her visit in Romania.

The officials discussed the regional security environment, especially in the Black Sea, the US-Romania Strategic Partnership and the Romanian policy on defence procurement.

The defence minister praised the consolidation of the existing partnership between the ALNG and the defence ministry and spoke of the willingness to conduct more bilateral activities in the future.

As to defence procurement, minister Țutuianu said that the Plan of major acquisition programs has been approved recently reiterating that Romania is firmly committed to allot two percent of the GDP for defence expenditure, in line with the commitment made to its NATO partners.

In turn, the chief of General Staff, General Nicolae Ciuca praised the excellent cooperation between Romanian soldiers and the Alabama National Guard along the over 20 years of partnership and thanked for the support received in the process of specialisation and improvement by Mil-to—Mil activities, in the training centers of both the Alabama National Guard and the US Army.

Following the involvement of the ALNG leadership in developing the partnership program, this level of cooperation has known a great evolution by providing support and expertise to train Romanian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, as well as by developing the infrastructure of Getica National Joint Training Centre at Cincu.

The visit of the US delegation is the first meeting between the recently appointed leader of the Alabama National Guard and the leadership of the Romanian Ministry of National Defence.

As part of her visit program in Romania, Major General Sheryl Gordon will meet with heads of the military services, will be present at an exercise of the mountain troops and will visit the Air Force Academy, the Land Force Academy, the Basarab I WOs and NCOs School and Getica National Joint Training Centre at Cincu.

Press Department