Romania-NATO Expert Meeting in Bucharest

Bucharest hosts, on 6-7 February, a Romania - NATO expert meeting for the analysis of defence capabilities under the NATO defence planning process, the Romanian National Defense Ministry (MApN) announces.

Romania is represented by specialists from the Defense Staff, from the Department for the Defense Policy within the Ministry of Defense, and experts of the force categories and of the Support commands. They analyze the extent to which NATO’s political goals have been fulfilled, as well as directions for the next defense planning cycle.

"The expert consultations envisage medium to long-term plans, multiannual budget allocations, and the way commitments are being fulfilled. The findings of this examination will be approved by the NATO Defense Ministers at their June meeting," MApN says.

Among the priorities of this year's endowment of the Romanian Army are the HIMARS long-range multi-launch missile system, the second PATRIOT system, the multifunctional corvette and the anti-ship mobile missile launchers, which have all the funding ensured.

Romania remains committed to developing the capabilities required by the Alliance to carry out all missions, "in line with NATO's level of ambition," thus meeting both national security requirements and those specific to the regional and Euro-Atlantic level, Defense Ministry underlines.

Romania's Defense budget for 2018 represents two percent of the GDP, and funds for the purchase of major equipment account for about 35 percent of the total budget, well above the 20 percent recommended by NATO, MApN states.

"The end of the event will be marked by a bilateral meeting of the Secretary of State for Defense policy, Planning and International relations Mircea Dușa, and Director of the NATO Defense Planning, Defense Policy and Planning Division, Paul Savereux", the release informs.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei