Germany, alongside its partners, supports Romania through the Immediate Action on Air Defence Initiative

  

State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, received on Thursday, October 31st, at the MoND headquarters, the visit of her German counterpart, Benedikt Zimmer, State Secretary within the Federal Ministry of Defence. The purpose of the meeting was to enhance strategic dialogue and increase bilateral defence cooperation.

The talks between the two officials focused on the global and regional security situation, the latest developments of the conflict in Ukraine and their impact on European security. The Romanian official emphasized the importance of the continued support for Ukraine, especially in the context of recent attacks on the critical infrastructure, and pointed out Romania's contribution consisting in a donated PATRIOT system, essential for the defence of Ukrainian airspace.

The Romanian State Secretary expressed Romania's appreciation for Germany's contribution to supporting Ukraine, through the Immediate Action on Air Defence (IAAD) Initiative, which, alongside its partners, will offset Romania for the donated PATRIOT system, thus strengthening regional security.

At the same time, during the talks, the support provided to the Republic of Moldova throughout its European accession process was also presented, an emphasis being placed on defence cooperation.

Also the officials reviewed the European Union's efforts to consolidate the security and defence dimension through initiatives such as the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the European Defence Fund (EDF), European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) and the European Defence Industry

Strategy/European Defence Industry Program (EDIS-EDIP), and the need for an enhanced cooperation within NATO and the EU to achieve common goals.

In conclusion, the two officials highlighted the importance of training through bilateral and multinational exercises and agreed on the need for a constant bilateral dialogue to enhance the existing solid relationship between Romania and Germany, through an effective implementation of NATO and EU projects, an example worthy of note being Germany's participation in the Air Policing Missions conducted in Romania.

The Press Office