Khaberni - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that the alliance is "ready, capable, and prepared to do what is necessary to defend," emphasizing that NATO dealt quickly and decisively with incidents of Russian drone breaches into Romanian airspace in recent months.
He said that deterrence remains "the cornerstone" of collective defense, and that the alliance will not hesitate to take any necessary action to protect its territories.
Rutte, during a joint press conference in Bucharest with Romanian President Nicușor Dan, confirmed that NATO takes these incidents very seriously "regardless of the intentions," and that the alliance will remain in a state of constant vigilance to ensure the security of the allies and the stability of the eastern flank.
The Secretary General added that the quick response to these incidents reflects the readiness of the alliance and its ability to respond, noting that activities like the "Eastern Sentinel" operation enhances defensive resilience and enables NATO to deploy military capabilities when needed across the eastern flank, including the Black Sea area.
In the context of reaffirming the mutual commitment between the alliance and Romania, Rutte said that Romania has been "a steadfast and reliable ally for over 20 years," and that NATO is "invested in Romania as it is invested in the alliance."
He praised Bucharest for hosting the advanced land forces led by France, which enhances the deterrence and defense posture on the eastern front.
He also mentioned that the upcoming week will see the execution of the "Dacian" exercise, which tests elevating deployment from a battalion to a brigade, enhancing the alliance's flexibility and capability to multiply military force when necessary.
The Secretary General focused on the strategic role of Romanians in the Black Sea region, affirming that the area "has strategic importance for the entire alliance," and praised the cooperation between Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey in expanding mine-clearing operations and naval patrols to enhance regional security.
Rutte also commended Romania's active participation in NATO missions in Kosovo and Iraq, and its support for Ukraine in facing Russian aggression and striving for peace, considering this evidence of its commitment to regional security and stability.
In terms of defense spending, the Secretary General pointed out that Romania "leads by example," as its defense spending exceeds 2% of GDP, with plans to raise it to 3.5% by 2030, in addition to allocating another 1.5% for defense and security investments.
Rutte stressed the importance of cooperation between the alliance and the defense industry to secure the necessary technology, artillery, and ammunition to defend every inch of the member states' territories, announcing his participation in the NATO industry forum in Bucharest, and said that the forum brings together government representatives and defense industries from major and emerging companies with the aim of "bridging the gap between what we have and what we need," and to accelerate production pace, reduce costs, and enhance military innovation.
He clarified that adversaries will continue to test the alliance, affirming that joint work with partners and the military industry is essential to maintain superiority and deterrence capability.
