On Wednesday, 29th September, State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, participated in the 13th edition of CEPA Forum (Center for European Policy Analysis) entitled Fit to Lead: Renewing the Transatlantic Alliance in a Contested World.

The panel NATO's Next Strategic Concept: Building Blocks for the Future offered the opportunity of an substantial exchange of opinions with Wess Mitchell, Vice-President of CEPA Council Co-Chairman of NATO's Reflection Group on the future NATO Strategic Concept, security at the Black Sea as well as the positioning of the North-Atlantic Alliance with regard to the new challenges in an ever tensed international security context.

In this context, the state secretary reiterated the importance of the Black Sea not only at regional level but also for the entire Euro-Atlantic security as well as the need to enforce the deterrence and defence posture on the Eastern Flank. The Romanian official emphasized the need to adequately reflect the challenges posed to the Black Sea into the future Strategic Concept.

Another relevant aspect that can help the Alliance adapt to the new challenges is the strengthening of resilience. NATO's adaptation process must continue but collective defence, respectively the Allied solidarity Article 5, stays the main objective of the Alliance, the Romanian official stated.

The Press Office