Defence Minister’s meeting with the Secretary of the United States Army

On Monday, April 27^th, Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruță, received, at the institution's headquarters, the visit of an American delegation led by Daniel P. Driscoll, Secretary of the United States Army.

 

On this occasion, a letter of intent was signed regarding collaboration in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS) and their countermeasure systems (C-UAS). By signing this document, Romania becomes the second country, after the United Kingdom, to obtain real-time access to the Counter-UAS Marketplace online platform.

 

The Romanian official stressed that "Romania remains a firm supporter of strengthening the transatlantic relationship. In a difficult economic context for Romania, we have increased the budget allocated to defense, in accordance with the commitments undertaken at Allied level". At the same time, he highlighted the essential role of the American military presence in Romania, as well as the importance of US investments in joint strategic projects, along with the potential for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, and reiterated the fact that "Romania is a reliable partner that respects its commitments", by recalling the Strategic Partnership with the US, signed more than two decades ago.

 

The visit's agenda also included a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, who emphasized the importance of cooperation with the United States for regional security and the consolidation of the Eastern Flank.

 

"Cooperation with the United States Army represents an essential pillar of regional security, and the dialogue with the Secretary of US the Army, Daniel P. Driscoll, confirms the joint commitment to strengthening the defence posture on the Eastern Flank. The Strategic Partnership with the United States of America remains fundamental for rapid adaptation to the new security challenges," General Gheorghiță Vlad said.

 

At the end of the meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Secretary of the US Army reiterated their joint commitment to identify and develop bilateral projects, both in the field of military capabilities and in that of training and exercises. These measures are essential for increasing the response capacity and interoperability between the armed forces. The parties also agreed to enhance the dialogue in order to support common priorities, including in preparation for the Ankara NATO Summit, scheduled for July.

 

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The Counter-UAS Marketplace is an American initiative, designed as a digital tool that allows the rapid identification and acquisition of anti-drone solutions adapted to operational requirements. It provides access to an extensive, constantly updated catalog, which includes over 1,600 pieces of equipment and systems, contributing to the efficiency of acquisition processes by reducing the duration of traditional defence contracting procedures.

The Press Office