The second day of NATO Defence Ministers' Meeting focused on the deterrence and defence posture, as the defence ministers discussed the stage of its implementation and the perspectives of NATO Summit scheduled forn July in Brussels.

The Romanian defence minister stressed the importance of maintaining the allied commitment to continue implementing the decisions made at Warsaw Summit related to consolidating the deterrence and defence posture of the allied troops along the Eastern flank.

They also highlighted the efforts made at national level to ensure the presence of land forces, such as the stage of rendering operational the multinational brigade and the progress made in implementing the Multinational Initiative of Intensified Joint Training as shown by the documents presented to the defence ministers partcipating in the meeting.

Another topic on the agenda was the analysis of the allied efforts to project stability and counter-terrorism, when the ministers discussed the allied efforts in the South, in the context of the security risks at the southern border of the Alliance. As to the fight agains terrorism, the support was reiterated that the Alliance gives to the Global Coalition against ISIS. They also discussed aspects concerning enhancing the support given to Iraq, in terms of developing the defence capacities and the training process of the Iraqi Security Forces.

In the margin of the defence ministerial, minister Fifor met with his counterparts from B9 member states, with a view to preparing the B9 meeting in the defence ministers format to take place in Bucharest in March.

During the talks, the Romanian minister emphasized the importance of the consulations among allies, as basis of defining common positions and approaches to the European and Euro-Atlantic security and defence. In this context, it was highlighted that the meeting in Bucharest will open a series of consulatations among the allies on the eastern flank, that would continue with Parliamentary consulations, only to be taken further by the B9 Summit of Warsaw in June.

All these events will contribute significantly to defining a common approach to setting the Agenda of the B9 Summit inf Brussels, as well as enhancing cooperation and interoperability among the allied armed forces along the entire eastern flank, minister Mihai Fifor declared.

The Press Office