US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Planning and International Affairs Simona Cojocaru met in Romania to discuss topics related to bilateral relations in the field of regional defense and security issues. , writes news.ro

According to a press release sent on Sunday by the Ministry of National Defense (MApN), the two officials welcomed the celebration in 2022 of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the strategic partnership between Romania and the United States of America, they shared views on security in the Black Sea region, praising the unity of the response NATO for Russia’s unfounded and unprovoked war against Ukraine. Both officials noted Ukraine’s recent successes on the Donbas battlefield and condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent rhetoric about escalating the conflict.

The US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs reaffirmed the United States’ Article 5 commitment to the Eastern Flank and thanked Romania for deploying a significant number of US forces on a rotational basis.

The two officials noted the historic significance of the NATO summit in Madrid and underscored the need for allies to continue investing in robust defense capabilities to protect the Alliance and deter Russian aggression.

While aboard a Romanian Navy ship on the Danube, Celeste Wallander and Simona Cojocaru joined a group of political and military experts to discuss Black Sea security and observe barges and cargo ships transporting grain from Ukraine to the world. market

Meanwhile, the two officials visited the 86th Air Base in Borc, where they met with members of the 53rd Squadron of the Romanian Air Force, which operates F-16s in support of NATO’s air combat patrols and enhanced air policing missions in the Black Sea.