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DefMin Motoc: NATO multinational brigade to be built around existing Romanian core
The NATO multinational brigade to be established in Romania will be built around an already existing Romanian brigade with a very high training level as per NATO standards, and equipped with modern war technology, Minister of National Defence Mihnea Motoc said on Thursday at the Victoria Palace of Government.
"The multinational brigade will be built around a core represented by an existing Romanian brigade. I cannot reveal its location to you, but it exists. Moreover, the currently more than 3,000-strong force boasts a high training level as per NATO standards and is also equipped with modern combat hardware," Motoc told a press conference delivered jointly with Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu on Romania's commitments after the NATO Summit in Warsaw.
Motoc said there had been an increased interest by the allies to participate in this brigade.
"Speaking of the number of allies who could (...) be interested in the multinational brigade, during Brussels ongoing talks, I noticed a high interest for (...) the security force in the south of the eastern flank. (...) There is also a growing interest as to Romania's position as a protagonist in strengthening allied security in the south of the eastern flank. Evidently they realize we are serious, predictable and carry through the undertaken commitments. All this will certainly translate into a real multinational structure of the brigade," Motoc said.
According to him, apart from Poland and Bulgaria, talks are afoot with at least another four allies to participate in this brigade.
"Speaking only about the multinational brigade, as the President of Romania has already said, there are clear signals of interest from at least six allies; I say at least six, because some with whom we started discussions have so to say electoral deadlines in the immediate future and the talks begun still need confirmation. But there are six allies, two of whom are already known to you, with their announced contributions, namely Poland with which we practically exchange companies — we participate in the combat group there, they contribute a company in our multinational brigade — and Bulgaria that promised up to 400 troops. Serious talks are underway with another 4 allies who expressed a clear interest and willingness to join our multinational framework brigade," said Motoc.