State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, had a meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to Romania, Annick Goulet, on Thursday, 14 January, at the MoND Headquarters.

The two officials talked about the status of the Romanian-Canadian cooperation in the field of defence as well as about topics listed on current security agendas of NATO, EU and UNO.

The State Secretary thanked the Canadian ambassador for her country's significant and constant contribution in the implementation of the consolidation measures of the Allied Eastern Flank, emphasizing Canada's participation in the enhanced Air Policing Missions conducted on Romanian territory, over the last years, the most recent mission ending in December 2020. The Royal Canadian Air Force Detachment and the Romanian Air Force personnel accomplished their missions safely and with professionalism, despite the current pandemics, State Secretary Cojocaru and Ambassador Goulet mentioned.

In this context, the interlocutors emphasized the utmost importance of the trans-Atlantic relation for European safety, considering the current security challenges posed in the Black Sea Region.

When highlighting the excellent Romanian-Canadian cooperation within the United Nations Organization, State Secretary Simona Cojocaru reminded about Romania's contribution within MINUSMA Mission from Mali (a detachment made up of 120 soldiers and four IAR 330L airlift helicopters which acted for a year, from October 2019-October 2020 ), thanking again the Canadian party for its essential support provided throughout the pre-deployment period of the Romanian detachment as well as during its mission.

At the end of the meeting, both parties expressed their conviction in maintaining the same pace of defence bilateral cooperation, both at the level of the political-military dialogue and in practical terms.

The Press Office