US Army Europe Commander: Romania is a trustworthy ally

The Commander of the United States Army in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, has praised the efforts Romania made to modernize the Army. During his stay in Cincu (Braşov), where he participated in one of the stages of the Saber Guardian 2017 multinational military exercise, the Commander reaffirmed the US commitment to European stability and security.

Ben Hodges: Romania demonstrates it is a trustworthy ally, firmly determined to continue to modernize its armed forces. Obviously, 2% (of the GDP) will be invested in Defense, but there is much more than that. It is the quality of young military personnel and their commanders genuinely committed to contributing to the security of the Black Sea. It was a new demonstration of why Romania is such an important ally within NATO.

The United States want to contribute to the security in the Black Sea area, Commander Ben Hodges said, adding that Saber Guardian exercise will not lead to an escalation of tensions with Russia. This idea was shared by the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who was also present at the Cincu Training Center. Asked by journalists if the talks on the Patriot missile defense acquisition and the recent military exercises would attract tensions with Moscow, the Head of State said:

Klaus Iohannis: We need to see the reason for these purchases. We are not preparing to attack anyone. We are preparing to be better equipped, that our Army can benefit from modern efficient facilities. It is an absolutely necessary thing, and these facilities are not thought, I repeat, to attack someone. They are conceived to defend us, to guarantee the security of Romanians, in Romania.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei