The meeting of State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly members

On Wednesday, April 5, State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, delivered a lecture on current emerging issues in the field of defense and security in front of the members of the Committee on Democracy and Security (CDS) of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, who are on a fact-finding visit to Romania, at the invitation of their Romanian counterparts. Alongside the State Secretary, Major General Remus Bondor, the Chief of the Strategic Planning Directorate of the Defence Staff and Brigadier General Constantin Spînu, the Chief of the Information and Public Relations Directorate, have also taken the floor.

In his speech, the Romanian official highlighted the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in the promotion and implementation of decisions taken at Allied level.

"Given the extremely complicated international context, you have a vital role in terms of connecting with citizens, especially in an era where disinformation and propaganda campaigns specific to hybrid warfare affect the whole society. Your messages really explain the role of collective defence and emphasize the importance and necessity of respecting the international norms and our deep attachment to a clear set of values and principles", State Secretary Simona Cojocaru stated.

The MoND official also addressed the security situation in the Black Sea region, emphasizing the latest developments of the Russian Federation's war of aggression in Ukraine and their impact on Euro-Atlantic security.

In this context, he commended the implementation status of the decisions taken at the Madrid NATO Summit, the prospects of the upcoming Vilnius Summit, which will take place in July, also being reviewed. The relevance of continuing implementing the deterrence and defence measures in the Black Sea area was highlighted, in the spirit of the new NATO Strategic Concept, which acknowledges the strategic importance of this region.

At the end of the meeting, the state secretary thanked all the states for their troop contribution on Romanian territory, either within the battle group led by France, or bilaterally or under the command of the Allied C2 structures deployed on our national territory.

During the event, Major General Remus Bondor, the Chief of the Strategic Planning Directorate of the Defense Staff, delivered a presentation on the concepts of societal resilience, emphasizing that, at present, these national documents are aligned with the NATO ones. The general also highlighted the place and role of the military tool in planning and management of the response to disruptive events.

In his turn, Brigadier General Constantin Spînu, the Chief of Information and Public Relations Directorate, briefed the audience on the Ministry of National Defence Communication Strategy, focusing on the efforts made by the institution to counter disinformation and fake news, especially in the context of Russia’s aggression war in Ukraine.

The Press Office