On Wednesday, 14th April, Defence Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca participated, together with the Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu in the Extraordinary Meeting of the NATO Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, organized in a videoconference format. The reunion was held in the context of the finalization of the assessment of the US administration regarding Afghanistan and the decision to withdraw the American forces by 11th September 2021.

The Romanian party appreciated the US reporting manner to the overall situation from Afghanistan, both from the perspective of the dialogue and coordination with the Allies and the increase of negotiations and intra-Afghan peace process. At the same time, the official emphasized Romania's long-lasting commitment to the stability and security of Afghanistan and highlighted the need to take into consideration the security interests of the Allies and Afghanistan, as well as the importance of maintaining NATO solidarity and unity.

In this context, minister Ciuca emphasized the importance of focusing on the implementation of the solid protection assurance measures for the NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan over the following period, concomitantly with a coordinated approach regarding the withdrawal of troops. Also, the Romanian official expressed his appreciation for the planning process run by the NATO military authorities.

In this context, following the allied talks, the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers adopted a Joint Declaration of the NAC by means of which they decided to initiate the process of withdrawing the allied troops from Afghanistan starting 1st May 2021. As one of the top troop contributor to the Resolute Support Mission, with over 600 soldiers currently deployed in Afghanistan, Romania with act in accordance with the allied decisions taken on the withdrawal calendar.

During the talks, the officials also approached the security situation recently created in the Eastern Neighborhood. The NATO Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers expressed their concerns regarding recent developments and the significant increase of the Russian military troops in the illegally annexated Crimea and at the Eastern border of Ukraine.

The Press Office