The North Atlantic Alliance, more united than ever

Host: Cristina Grecu - The North Atlantic Alliance is more united than ever after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said US President Joe Biden at the end of the Madrid summit, which he called historic, because it defines a new NATO issue. He also announced the placement of an offensive brigade in Romania and the establishment of a new permanent headquarters in Poland in order to consolidate the eastern flank of the alliance. Oana Bala broadcasts from Madrid.

Reporter: The NATO summit in Madrid was about strengthening the alliance, but also about facing future challenges and threats, said US President Joe Biden and spoke about strengthening defense in Europe.

Joe Biden: As for us, the United States is doing exactly what I said we will do and what Putin hates: we are strengthening our defense position in Europe, we will station more ships here in Spain, we will place more air defense in Italy and Germany, several F-35 aircraft in the United Kingdom and to strengthen the eastern flank we will have a new permanent headquarters for the Fifth Army Corps in Poland, and in addition, an offensive brigade stationed in Romania and rotating deployments in the Baltic countries. All this is happening in the context of NATO's response to Russia's aggression and to help Ukraine defend itself.

Reporter: The Minister of Defense, Vasile Dincu, who was part of the Romanian delegation at the Madrid summit, underlined the importance of declaring the Black Sea as an area of ​​strategic interest.

Vasile Dincu: Romania is becoming a much more important part of the territory that NATO is defending, because something is happening that was bound to happen, a balance is being made between the north and south. If in the past the Baltic Sea area was much better protected, so the northern part, now we have an equivalent presence in the Black Sea area, which is very important.

Reporter: Finland and Sweden will sign the NATO accession protocol on Tuesday to officially become member states, the alliance's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, announced. The protocol is to be ratified by the parliaments of all 30 countries that are already part of NATO, and thus the two Nordic countries will be received in alliance and will benefit from its collective defense clause.

Translated by: Radu Matei