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Start of operational capability of the NATO Multinational Division Southeast headquarters in Bucharest
Romania is further committed to its role of regional security supplier, of predictable ally and of stability pole on the eastern border of the Euro-Atlantic space, where challenges and threats arise, President Klaus Iohannis assured on Friday, at a ceremony for declaring the initial operational capability of the NATO Multinational Division Southeast headquarters and the full capability of the NATO Force Integration Unit in Bucharest.
The head of state pointed out that the political options, not the military ones, are the only "viable" solutions, and insisted that "the Allied solidarity remains the vital factor of the Euro-Atlantic stability and security."
Iohannis placed the declarations of capability of the two Allied structures within the context of preparation for next week's NATO Summit in Warsaw.
"The Warsaw Summit is vital for the consolidation of the collective security and defence, following the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan set up at the 2014 Summit. Romania's position at this year's NATO Summit in Warsaw is in favour of harmonising the shared security and defence interests, in the spirit of Allied solidarity and cohesion, but in a balanced way on the two flanks, eastern and southern, and on the two dimensions — northern and southern — of the eastern flank," he declared.
The President reminded Romania's wish to keep the Black Sea region in the present and future reflection and decision-making processes of the Alliance, pertaining to the continuation of NATO's long-term adaptation.
"Romania met its assumed goals fully and on time, in accordance with the Alliance's level of ambition and with the measures adopted in 2014, at the Summit in the United Kingdom, which proves we're a credible ally. A proof to this effect is the fact that we have increased our defence expenditure, and we will continue to do that until reaching the two percent of GDP level next year," he mentioned.
The NATO command structures in Romania play a major role in the efforts of improving the Alliance's readiness to successfully respond to present and future challenges, facilitating the deployment of NATO forces in the region.
The Friday's ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Mihnea Motoc, Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu, U.S. Ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm, Allied Joint Force Command Naples commander Admiral Michelle Howard, and Multinational Division Southeast commander Brigadier General Ovidiu Uifaleanu.