Radio România Internațional

Tag: NATO

  • January 18, 2025 UPDATE

    January 18, 2025 UPDATE

    Protest – Thousands of members and supporters of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), the main opposition party in Romania’s Parliament, protested on Saturday in Bucharest and across Romania, demanding, among other things, the resumption of the second round of the presidential election. They criticized the court’s decision by which the action opened by the independent candidate Călin Georgescu in the case of the cancellation of the presidential election was definitively rejected and said that it defies millions of Romanians who demand the resumption of the second round of voting and that it ignores the lack of clear evidence. Organized on time, on November 24, 2024, the first round was invalidated by the Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR), which, based on documents provided by the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), invoked the interference of a so-called state actor. The second round, scheduled for December 8, was to be contested by Georgescu, accused of connections with Russia, and the opposition Save Romania Union (USR) leader Elena Lasconi. In the diaspora, where the polling stations for the decisive round opened on December 6, tens of thousands of Romanians had already voted when the CCR decided to invalidate the first round. The costs of the invalidated election allegedly stand at almost 1.4 billion lei (the equivalent of about 280 billion Euros). On December 21, the acting president’s second and last five-year presidential mandate was to expire, according to the Constitution, but his mandate was extended until the election of a new president to be validated by the CCR.

     

    NATO – Hundreds of British military vehicles are on their way to Romania, loaded on ferries, to take part in a major NATO exercise, the British government announced. 2,400 British soldiers, with 730 military vehicles, will form the main battle group, supported by representatives of five other NATO countries, and the United Kingdom will ensure the command of the land component. The new allied reaction force replaced the NATO response force last year and aims to quickly and effectively respond to any threat in peacetime, crisis or conflict.

     

    Tennis – The Romanian-Ukrainian pair Gabriela Ruse/Marta Kostiuk qualified for the round of 16 of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, after defeating the pair Elise Mertens (Belgium)/Ellen Perez (Australia) 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in Melbourne. In another second round match, the Romanian Jaqueline Cristian and her Italian partner Camilla Rosatello were defeated by the pair Leylah Fernandez (Canada)-Nadia Kicenok (Ukraine), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Jaqueline Cristian was also defeated in the singles by the German Eva Lys 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the third round.

     

    Intelligence Service – The Romanian Intelligence Service presented new details about the strategic objectives in Romania that a Colombian citizen intended to blow up, at the instigation of a person from Russia. The target was a recyclable waste deposit, two oil extraction wells and a Natural Gas Regulating Metering Station. Luis Alfonso Murillo Diosa was sent to court last November for crimes against national security. According to the investigators, the Colombian was affiliated with an extensive network of saboteurs, controlled through intermediaries by the Russian secret services, which targeted several European states. A former military, trained in intelligence gathering activities, Diosa arrived on Romanian territory in July 2024.

     

    Fair – Romania will participate in the largest organic products fair in the world, BioFach 2025, which will take place in Nuremberg (Germany) between February 11-14, announced the Bio-Romania Association, supported by the Romanian Government through the Romanian Agency for Investments and Foreign Trade. According to the Association, Romania has been present for 20 years at this event dedicated to agriculture and ecological products. Since 1990, BioFach has become the essential meeting point for organic food producers worldwide, offering networking opportunities and a place where ideas can be exchanged between all actors in the value chain of the organic sector.

     

    US – The inauguration ceremony of the US President-Elect, Donald Trump, will be moved indoors, as the weather forecast for Monday in Washington indicates very low temperatures, the American press announces. Therefore, the swearing-in ceremony, which was supposed to take place on the steps of the Capitol, will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda, just as it was done at the ceremony for the second term of the former president Ronald Reagan. Donald Trump has told his supporters that they will be able to see the inauguration ceremony on screens located inside the Capital One Arena, a sports arena in Washington with a capacity of 20,000 people. The transition team announced that, on Monday, Donald Trump would again use his own Bible, and also the “Lincoln Bible”, a copy known by this name because it was the holy book used by the 16th president of the USA , Abraham Lincoln. The Republican leader also used these two copies when taking the oath for his first mandate, in 2017, the EFE agency reports. (LS)

  • The European Union cannot decouple from the United States

    The European Union cannot decouple from the United States

    In his first appearance in the European Parliament’s foreign affairs and defence committees, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Europe cannot afford to decouple from the United States in the area of defence. He told MEPs that the US is currently covering around 60% of NATO spending and that without the US, Europeans would have to raise their defence spending four times. In that case, defence security would only be achieved in the next 10-15 years, Rutte said, before suggesting that arms purchase and delivery procedures should be simplified.

    He urged Europeans to allocate more to defence spending. 2% of GDP is too little given the war in Ukraine, the NATO Secretary General pointed out, adding that security is the most important thing to preserve what European democracy has achieved so far. He proposed that the hybrid attacks we’ve seen in the last 15 years should be considered a “destabilisation campaign” by Russia, which has been attacking Europe in different ways:

    “Russia’s war against Ukraine rages on. At the same time, Russia’s is accelerating its destabilisation campaign against our own countries, with cyber attacks, with assassination attempts, acts of sabotage and more. We used to call this hybrid; I’m trying to get rid of that word, hybrid, I would call it destabilisation campaign. And Russia is not alone, it has China, North Korea and Iran, by its side. Meanwhile, many other dangers persist, from terrorism, nuclear proliferation, disinformation, and, of course, climate change. NATO allies have certainly increased defence spending, two thirds are now spending at least 2% of GDP on defence. And that’s good, and we very much welcome their efforts, but to be honest, 2% is not nearly enough. Our industry is still too small, it is too fragmented and, to be honest, it is too slow. I welcome and support that the EU is now redoubling efforts to remedy this by enhancing our defence industrial base and, with the European defence industry programme, we have opportunity to bolster our shared security.”

    At the moment, only 23 of NATO’s 32 member states are meeting the targeted defence spending of 2% of GDP, with Romania being one of the former. The new US president elect Donald Trump asked NATO member states from Europe to boost their defence budgets to at least 5% of GDP per year, a target seen, however, as unrealistic in the European Union. A possible decision to raise this target is expected at the next NATO summit to be held in The Hague in June this year.

  • Changing command at the anti-missile defence facility in Deveselu

    Changing command at the anti-missile defence facility in Deveselu

    The new commander of the U.S. Aegis Ashore Missile Defence System Romania, also known as USAAMDSRO, is the US Commanding Officer Robert Foster. He took over the command of the aforementioned facility from Commanding Officer Matthew Iwanczuk, during a change of command ceremony held in Deveselu, southern Romania, sources with the US Sixth Fleet have announced. Iwanczuk took command in September 2023. Commander Foster was born in Tennessee and earned his commission from the United States Naval Academy in 2007. He served as executive officer aboard the USS Fort Lauderdale and most recently served as the staff of Commander, Naval Force Atlantic.

    At the change of command ceremony, Robert Foster said quote, “for the last 75 years, NATO has been a cornerstone of an international order based on rules where diplomacy, not force, is the means of resolving conflicts. Too many would use violence or the threat of violence to coerce others into accepting their demands. We exist so any such strike would be blunted, and in doing so make those considering such action doubt their ability to achieve their aims by violence” unquote.

    USAAMDSRO is under the operational control of the US 6th Fleet based in Naples, Italy and is part of the European Phased Adapted Approach (EPAA), which protects NATO Allies and U.S. deployed forces in the region. This land-based missile defence facility is designed to detect, track, engage and destroy ballistic missiles in flight outside the atmosphere.

    NSF Deveselu provides essential support to USAAMDSRO in core mission areas such as safety, security and quality of life and works with the Romanian 99th Military Base to ensure the security and safety of the USAAMDSRO site.

    In another development, the US ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, and the Romanian Defence Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, have visited Airbase 57 in Mihail Kogălniceanu (south-eastern Romania), where they met the US, Romanian, Spanish and French servicemen deployed there and also with part of the military attaches of NATO countries accredited. The two officials showed interest in the stage of the development works of the Mihai Kogalniceanu airbase part of a 2.5 billion euro project unfolding on 20 years. It was ambassador Kavalec’s fourth visit at the aforementioned base and she had several precise objectives.

    «First I came here to meet with the US troops serving here on a rotational basis at this airbase and to see how they are doing. Second to see the progress that is being made as Romania is investing quite a bit of funds to improve this important airbase, which is among the most important in NATO, which helps the eastern flank, the Black Sea area. So, it is very exciting to see the progress that it’s being made in expanding the base and the capabilities not only to serve as a launching pad in airbase but also to house troops, including American troops. Today I had the opportunity to meet with American troops, but also with Spanish, French and Romanian troops. So that is one of the reasons that I am here.  In this particular visit we met with NATO attaches, military attaches who are here, also to get a briefing on the improvements that have been made and the progress in expanding the base and to discuss some of the common challenges that we all face as NATO allies. And finally I am here just to wish and thank all of the Romanians who are making this possible to thank them for the efforts and wish them happy holidays in this season.”

    Roughly 4 thousand US troops are presently serving on a rotational basis at the Airbase 57 in Mihail Kogalniceanu and when the project is finished the base will be able to house nearly 10 thousand troops.

    (bill)

     

  • December 17, 2024 UPDATE

    December 17, 2024 UPDATE

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    GOVERNMENT – The pro-European parties represented in the future Parliament in Bucharest continued, on Tuesday, discussions on the governing program. The meeting was attended by representatives of PSD, PNL, UDMR, but also those of USR, who were absent from Monday’s discussions and who are asking for the measures to be adopted and next year’s budget to be first decided. In their opinion, the distribution of responsibilities and positions in the future Government can only be done after discussions on the governing program. The leaders of PSD, PNL and UDMR announced that they have the necessary votes in Parliament to form a majority and a government, in case USR decides to leave the coalition. On Monday, in the first part of the day, the heads of the four parties discussed the draft budget for 2025 with the Minister of Finance, Marcel Boloş, but also the budget execution for the current year. The future governing program should include a series of major reforms, which are to be finalized and made public by Friday, December 20, when the new Parliament is to be convened, the coalition leaders said.

     

     

    AMBASSADOR – “While there is always more work to do, it is clear Romania has chosen the right path – the European and Euro-Atlantic path – towards democracy, peace, security and prosperity – for all its citizens,” said the US ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, on Tuesday, at the Romanian Foreign Ministry offices, where she was conferred the Order of the Star of Romania.  Ambassador Kavalec extended her thanks to the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, for the collaboration aimed at strengthening the US-Romania strategic partnership. In this context, the US ambassador to Bucharest mentioned some of the objectives achieved together with the Romanian partners, including the strengthening of Romania’s defense capabilities and its role in promoting regional security, fulfilling the requirements of the Visa Waiver program. She also referred to investments, but also to the development of bilateral relations in the fields of education and culture. At the same time, Kathleen Kavalec also highlighted the joint aid offered to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, as well as the “remarkable” progress that Romania has made as a member of the EU and NATO and as strategic partner of the United States.

     

     

    ELECTIONS – Four American senators, both Republican and Democrat, have condemned Russia’s interference in the presidential elections in Romania and expressed their support for Bucharest in the fight for the integrity of the electoral process. The senators assured that the United States stands by Romania, as the country urgently takes measures for free and fair presidential elections. The first round of the presidential elections in Romania was cancelled after it was revealed that the voting had not bee not fair due to illegal practices supported by Russia on social media, especially on TikTok. For its part, the European Union announced on Monday that it adopted the first sanctions in response to “hybrid actions” on its territory, against Russian agents accused of “destabilizing” actions in the EU.

     

     

    FORESTRY – The new Forestry Code, a milestone of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, has been adopted by the Parliament in Bucharest. More than seven months after the normative it passed the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, as the decision-making body, adopted the project. The document, which received over 200 amendments, provides, among other things, for video surveillance of forest roads, imprisonment of up to five years for falsifying forestry computer data and the establishment of the National Forest Registry. The Minister of Environment, Mircea Fechet, said that the measures provided for in the law ensure forest conservation, economic development and new jobs. However, the opposition expressed dissatisfaction with the final form of the project.

     

     

    PRICES – Romania ranks first in the European price increase rankings. Since the beginning of the year, the country has recorded the largest price increases for food, clothing, footwear, electronics, household appliances and services among all European Union countries. Data from the National Institute of Statistics indicate that food and non-food products increased in price by 5% in November 2024, compared to November 2023, and services by 7.56%. According to Eurostat, over 25% of Romanians’ monthly income is allocated to food, well above the European average, despite the fact that salaries have increased compared to previous years. Romanians spend 30 billion euros annually on consumer goods, such as food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and personal and household care products. In the first nine months of 2024, sales of such items increased by 16%, the increase being covered, in fact, only by price increases, as consumption decreased.

     

     

    RECESSION – Entrepreneurs are drawing attention to the danger of an economic recession in Romania in 2025 and are calling on the future government in Bucharest to take measures. During the debate “Back to the Economy. How Entrepreneurs See 2025”, staged on Monday by the Coalition for Freedom of Trade and Communication, business people recalled that 2024 was an extremely challenging year and recommended that the future government should avoid measures that would excessively burden the business environment, in an attempt to reduce the budget deficit. They also spoke out in favor of more predictability.

  • The Republic of Moldova’s Euro-Atlantic Option

    The Republic of Moldova’s Euro-Atlantic Option

    The relations between NATO and the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet, Romanian-speaking country, have along the years known several development stages, being marked by political changes at regional and global levels.

    Chișinău has lately stepped up the relations it has with the North-Atlantic Alliance against the background of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. During one of her visits to Brussels, the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, reiterated before the NATO headquarters her state’s commitment to peace and regional security.

    The Peace Partnership between the Republic of Moldova and NATO “has contributed to a safer environment for citizens, for strengthening the army’s defence capabilities and the resilience of our entire society,” Sandu said during the meeting she had with NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, according to a press release by the presidency in Chisinau.

    Talks focused on regional security, hybrid threats, including interference in the election process and corruption as well as the need for joint actions for the protection of the regional democracies.

    Talking to the North-Atlantic Council, NATO’s main decision-making structure, made up of the representatives of all the 32 members, president Sandu underlined the efforts made by the Republic of Moldova to maintain peace and stability in spite of the war going on at its borders, and to consolidate its resilience against hybrid threats.

    The head of the Moldovan state drew attention to foreign interference tactics targeting democratic processes such as the illegal funding of parties and the manipulation of information, with a view to undermining democracy and the citizens’ trust.

    She also highlighted the importance of international cooperation for defending democracies the world over and promoting peace. According to the Moldovan President, her visit to the NATO headquarters is proof of Chisinau’s commitment to ensuring the security of its citizens, of protecting the democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova and strengthening its role as a trustworthy partner in the regional security. Sandu’s visit to Brussels took place after the confirmation of the country’s European roadmap in the referendum, where Moldovans voted for this national objective to be included in the country’s Constitution.

    The visit came after the new European Commission had kicked off its mandate underlining the continuity and consolidation of the country’s strong ties with the European Union. During her visit, the Chisinau leader also met the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, who on Tuesday announced a 60 million Euro support package for the Republic of Moldova, which will use the money to reform its legal system and achieve economic stability.

    (bill)

  • Statements about Romania’s belonging in NATO and the UE

    Statements about Romania’s belonging in NATO and the UE

    At the question ‘in what country they would want to work or study for a longer period of time’, 42% of the respondents to an opinion poll made by INSCOP in Romania in June 2021 opted for a Western country, in the EU or for the United States or Canada. Only 4% chose Russia and China whereas 47% said they would not leave their country. 66.6% said they preferred the Western-style rights and liberties to the traditional values Russia pretends to promote and only 16.2% stood in favour of the so-called Russian values. 56.2% of the Romanians believed that Romania’s accession to the EU brought along advantages whereas 35.1% saw only disadvantages. 65.8% of the respondents said they want Romania to be a NATO member, so that it may be well-defended militarily, 28.6% stood for neutrality as they believed Romania was not going to be attacked by anyone.

    73.8% believed the US bases on Romania’s territory contribute to the country’s defence in the event of a foreign aggression. Even at that time, the respondents overwhelmingly voiced their discontent with the activity of their leaders irrespective of their political creed.

    The sociologists’ conclusion at that time was that the Romanians did not contest their belonging to the free world but only the legitimacy of a political class, which ignored them and looked down on them. Romania is firmly committed to its assumed Euro-Atlantic headway and the decision to bring our own contribution to strengthening security in the area remains a solid one, Romania’s Minister of Defence, Angel Tîlvăr said on Tuesday during the visit he paid together with the US ambassador Kathleen Kavalec to the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase in southeastern Romania.  There they met a delegation of military attaches from NATO countries accredited to Bucharest, the US troops deployed there as well as their Spanish, French and Romanian counterparts.

    According to ambassador Kavalec ‘Romania is investing quite a bit of funds to improve this important airbase, which is one of the most important in NATO and which helps defend the Eastern Flank and which helps defend the Black Sea area’.

    Also on Tuesday, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, Princess Margareta says that never in its modern history has Romania enjoyed a higher security level and better conditions for economic prosperity than now as a fully-fledged member of the EU and NATO.

    In another development she described the latest presidential and Parliamentary election as a cry for help from the voters who against a rapid but unequal economic development are feeling ignored. She gave as example the differences between the country’s capital Bucharest and the poverty in rural Romania or the investment in modern technologies whereas expenditures in the health sector remain the lowest in the European Union.

    (bill)

  • December 4, 2024 UPDATE

    December 4, 2024 UPDATE

    PARLIAMENT – The interim president of the National Liberal Party, Ilie Bolojan, on Wednesday said the pro-European parties in the new Parliament, PSD, PNL, USR, UDMR and the group of national minorities have agreed to create a coalition as part of a joint resolution. The coalition will seek to ensure stability and reforms. The four parties are expected to hold together over 55% of total seats in Parliament after the completion of the redistribution process. The other three parties that entered Parliament, AUR, SOS Romania and POT, seen as ultranationalist and sovereigntist, will hold 37% of MP seats. The exact figures will be made public at the end of the week once all mandates that were left vacant after the election are redistributed, the president of the Permanent Election Authority, Toni Greblă, says. The new Parliament is expected to officially start its activity on December 20, when the four-year term of the current legislature is set to end.

     

    DOCUMENTS – The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday declassified 5 documents presented by the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Romanian Intelligence Service and the Special Telecommunications Service in the November 28 meeting of the Supreme Defense Council. The documents regard infringement of electoral advertising regulations ahead of the 1st round of the presidential election. We recall that following last week’s meeting, Council members noticed that cyber-attacks sought to influence the first round of the presidential election, held on November 24.

     

    FINANCE – Finance Minister Marcel Boloș on Wednesday said the Government has withdrawn 6 bln EUR from the Reserve Fund to deal with imbalances triggered by the recent political uncertainty. Romania is undergoing a period of uncertainty until a new government is sworn in to stabilize and finalize the country’s budget policies, the Finance Minister added, expressing hope the crisis would end. The same difficulties in terms of state bonds and loans are also transparent on the stock market, Minister Boloș went on to say.

     

    FLOODS – The Government has updated the national strategy for the management of medium and long-term flood risks. The updated document provides a number of general objectives, including the need ot modernize the protection infrastructure, including embankments and dams, implementing natural solutions, such as water draining, introducing tight regulations for the use of farmland in at-risk areas and providing risk management training to technical staff. The implementation of these goals are estimated to cost approximately 18 bln EUR, which will be covered with EU funds from the Recovery and Resilience mechanism.

     

    NATO – Ukraine’s allies should provide enough military assistance to “alter the course of the war once and for all”, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in Brussels, which hosted the two-day meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. On Tuesday, in her speech before the Foreign Affairs Council, Romania’s Foreign Minister, Luminița Odobescu, said NATO membership presented Romania with the strongest security guarantees it ever had. Over 5,000 NATO troops are currently deployed to Romania for deterrence and security consolidation purposes, the Romanian official recalled. Another positive effect of the presence of foreign troops is an economic boost, while NATO membership itself reinforces Romania’s credibility at international level, including on financial markets, the Romanian official said.

     

    GAUDEAMUS – A new edition of the Gaudeamus Book Fair has kicked off in Bucharest. Organized by Radio Romania, the event this year is presided by a special honorary guest, Mircea Cărtărescu, one of the best-known and internationally acclaimed Romanian contemporary writers, the recipient of countless national and international awards. Some 200 exhibitors are taking part in the fair, which until December 8 will bring visitors hundreds of book launches and numerous premieres. (VP)

  • Romania. The Eastern Flank: Spanish F18 Hornet aircraft hunt drones in Romanian skies

    Romania. The Eastern Flank: Spanish F18 Hornet aircraft hunt drones in Romanian skies

    Spanish F18 Hornet aircraft are hunting drones in the sky of Romania, within NATO’s airspace. Several times in the last two months, the residents of Constanța County, on the shores of the Black Sea, have received alarm messages from the Ro-Alert system on their phones advising them to take shelter because objects may fall from the sky. What in the last year was happening only on the northern border of the Chilia arm of the Danube Delta, in the direct vicinity of Ukraine, at Ismail or Chilia Veche, is suddenly also happening in a large city in Romania. And the noise of military planes flying over the city at low altitude shows that the hybrid war, the electronic war or simply the war of drones launched by the Russian Federation has also reached Constanța.

     

    In the cockpit of the military planes that fly over the city of Constanța, alongside the Romanian F16 aircraft, there are also pilots of the Spanish F18 aircraft from the “Guard” squadron of the Spanish Air and Space Forces who have been performing reinforced air policing missions here for four months, starting in August. They are stationed at the 57th Air Base “Căpitan aviator Constantin Cantacuzino” from Mihail Kohălniceanu, just a few kilometers north of Constanta and are the first to take off in such cases. After receiving the “alpha scramble” mission (a real interception mission), the pilots of the three aircraft permanently on alert (in total 8 aircraft are deployed here), run to the aircraft and in a few minutes (15 minutes) take off. Lieutenant-Colonel Rafael Ichaso Franco, commander of the “Guard” squadron, said: “We act on such real interception missions as a rule with two F18 Hornet aircraft and we try to locate and identify the drones with the help of the equipment on board our planes.”

     

    We also asked the commander of the detachment if it is true that all the real interception missions of late have been caused by drones that have reached our airspace or its proximity: “Yes, we can say that, but I must specify that, when we take off, we don’t know what the situation is, which aerial targets we are talking about, but in general you are right, recently these aerial targets reported were drones of the Russian Federation.” Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Ichaso Franco confirmed.

     

    When visiting them at the airfield, the alarm cell was manned by pilots from the 12th Aviation Wing in Torrejon, 24-26-year-olds, jovial and enthusiastic, who, despite their age, fly aircraft worth tens of millions of euros. Major Juan Enrique Lopez, chief of operations within the detachment, said: “We had some issues related to drones considering that, in today’s real world, drones are a significant threat. But fighting them really remains a challenge, it’s a challenge to manage to control the situation and keep NATO’s airspace safe.”

     

    Another problem is the visual identification of these relatively small drones, especially when flying an F18 aircraft. Major Lopez also gave us some explanations: “They are small aerial targets and due to the material they are made of, the reflection surface is also very small. But we have certain sensors and equipment on our aircraft that can pick up the thermal signature, the source of heat given off by the drone’s engine, and so we can locate it. The real challenge in locating drones is to visually identify them, especially since they are painted black and launched at night, but we eventually succeed because we have a lot of sensors that are effective even in low light conditions, night vision and infrared missiles,” Major Lopez concluded.

     

    The mission of the Spanish pilots and F18 aircraft will end here in Romania on November 30. The Russian Federation’s drones will certainly continue to test the Alliance’s airspace as part of a hard-to-control hybrid war. (Bogdan Dinu, LS)

  • November 19, 2024

    November 19, 2024

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    MESSAGE – Despite 1,000 days of terrible warfare, Ukraine stands unbowed, the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec has said today in a statement, marking 1000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She also said that, according to the UN, Russian forces have killed more than 11,000 Ukrainian civilians, including more than 600 children, and continue to engage in shocking war crimes, including torture of civilians and prisoners of war. At the same time, Russian bombs have obliterated schools, hospitals, and treasured sites of Ukrainian history, culture, and memory. According to the American diplomat, Ukraine has shown remarkable courage and resolve in defense of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, helped by the enduring support of its friends and allies around the world. Romania has shown true leadership in support of Ukraine and its citizens and, as strategic partners and NATO allies, the United States and Romania stand together to counter the threats posed by Russia in Ukraine and in Europe, Kathleen Kavalec also said.

     

    RUSSIA – Moscow continued to criticize Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use American long-range missiles to attack Russia. Deputy National Security Adviser for the Biden Administration, John Final, emphasized the fact that Russia is waging a war of aggression. However, Joe Biden’s decision was criticized by President-elect Donald Trump’s team members. They accuse Biden of escalating the conflict two months before leaving office. On the other hand, on Monday, Ukraine marked 1,000 days since Russia’s large scale invasion of its territory. The invasion led to the destruction of numerous Ukrainian towns and cities, and 6 million people were forced to flee the country. Thousands of civilians were killed during the bombings. On the battlefield, losses are described by Reuters as catastrophic and estimated at hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded on both sides.

     

    ELECTIONS – These are the last days of the election campaign for the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, scheduled for Sunday, November 24. There are 13 candidates for the position of head of state, nine proposed by political parties and four independents. The head of the Permanent Election Authority, Toni Greblă, says that it is possible that, by late Monday, November 25, the official results of the election be announced. The second round of the presidential elections is scheduled for December 8.

     

    INFLATION – The annual inflation rate in the European Union rose to 2.3% in October, from 2.1% in September, and Romania is, for the eighth month in a row, the country with the highest inflation rate in the community bloc, with an annual price increase of 5%, according to data published on Tuesday by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). Last month, the lowest annual inflation rates in the EU were recorded in Slovenia (0.0%), Lithuania and Ireland (each 0.1%), while the highest were in Romania (5%), Belgium and Estonia (each 4.5%). The National Bank of Romania has revised upwards, to 4.9%, from 4% previously, the inflation forecast for the end of 2024 and estimates that it will reach 3.5% at the end of 2025, according to data presented on Monday by the Governor of the National Bank of Romania, Mugur Isărescu.

     

    FOOTBALL – The Romanian national football team defeated Cyprus 4-1 on Monday night at home in its last match in Group C2 of the Nations League. The Romanians thus won their fifth victory in the group and advanced to the competition’s League B. Romania still has to wait for UEFA’s decision for the match against Kosovo on Friday in Bucharest, abandoned by the guests with only a few tens of seconds before the end, at a goalless score, when they heard pro-Serbian chants from the host fans. The Kosovo Football Federation denounced what it saw as an “unacceptable and unsafe atmosphere”. The Romanian Football Federation rejected the accusations as unfounded.

  • Allied naval missions and training sessions at the Black Sea

    Allied naval missions and training sessions at the Black Sea

     

    On November 4th through 9th, Romania’s Naval Forces took part in the POSEIDON 24 multinational exercise, organised by Bulgaria in its territorial waters. The “Grigore Antipa” diving support vessel participated in the training sessions, providing hyperbaric care, maritime research and search and rescue services. The exercise was aimed at improving the inter-operability of the participating structures, and focused on strengthening operational capabilities by practising NATO procedures and combat tactics.

     

    “POSEIDON is an annual exercise, organised alternatively by Romania and Bulgaria, and its main goal is to enhance the inter-operability of participating structures,” said the vessel commander, Cristian Mitu. Also taking part in the exercise were the minesweeper “Lt. Dimitrie Nicolescu”, alongside the other vessels in the Romanian-Bulgarian-Turkish task force for countering naval mines in the Black Sea, which has convened for the 3rd time this year. The partner vessels in Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey are conducting operations to ensure safe navigation and to remove prospective threats to sea shipping, such as naval mines.

     

    Early this year, in an official ceremony in Istanbul, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding on setting up a mine clearing vessel group in the Black Sea for a period of 3 years.

     

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    Polish troops in the Multinational Brigade South-East, hosted by Romania, celebrated Poland’s Independence Day on November 11. Poland has contributed 225 troops to 26th Infantry Battalion in Craiova (south). On November 11, Poland celebrates regaining its independence in 1918, after 123 years it had been divided between Austro-Hungary, Prussia and Russia.

    “Even if we are far from Poland, we marked this day in a significant manner. We’ve had a military ceremony attended by our own troops as well as guests from other countries: Romania, North Macedonia, Portugal and France. The Ambassador of Poland and the military attache in Romania were also present, as were Polish officers from other international Allied structures. The ceremony included promotions, decoration of troops and speeches on the importance of Independence Day. Then we had a festive lunch where we told stories and enjoyed each other’s company. There are customs that connect us to our country even when we are far away. On Independence Day we put on our uniforms, raise Poland’s flag and acknowledge the merits of our soldiers. We also take a moment to honour those who fought for our independence. All these help us feel closer to our heritage and remind ourselves of our duty as soldiers. It is a way to connect to Poland’s values, wherever we are,” the head of the Polish unit major Michal Miedzielski told us.

  • Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe

    Peace, no longer a certainty in Europe

     

     

    Less than 2 weeks from now, Romania will hold the first round of its presidential election, and the campaign remains low-key, limited to predictable speeches and mutual attacks between the candidates. Analysts and commentators deplore the contenders’ almost complete disregard for major topics, such as the war in neighbouring Ukraine and the country’s preparedness for any kind of security challenges.

     

    The military, on the other hand, are not involved in the campaign and are quite familiar with such delicate topics. Moreover, the institution they represent enjoys, unlike political parties, some of the highest public confidence rates.

     

    A little while ago, the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, gen. Gheorghiţă Vlad, warned about the small number of reserved troops that Romania can resort to in case of a conflict, and about loopholes that restrict the armed forces’ response capacity in certain situations. It was a useful public statement, because the authorities set out to address the problems the general mentioned.

     

    On Tuesday, on the celebration of the Armed Forces General Staff, gen. Vlad rang an alarm bell as current security indicators suggest peace is no longer to be taken for granted on the European continent. He mentioned that, in violation of international humanitarian law, the Russian Federation’s moves fuel a negative progression of the likelihood of security risks and threats. According to the military official, a defence crisis is on-going in the Black Sea region, a region of strategic interest for NATO.

     

    The Romanian Army, Vlad emphasised, has reconfigured its defensive architecture. Procedures have been adjusted, the military’s response capability has been recalibrated and structures have been consolidated so as to improve the permanent combat service, air police and vigilance. Early warning and situational awareness capabilities have also be strengthened.

     

    Our defensive capacity, including Euro-Atlantic relations and the Strategic Partnership with the US, remain the vectors of our national deterrence and defence posture in the Black Sea region, and the Armed Forces General Staff plays a vital role in consolidating this posture, Vlad pointed out.

     

    In mid-September, NATO military leaders attending the Alliance’s Military Committee conference in Prague analysed the progress in implementing the defence plans approved in the 2023 Summit. On that occasion, gen. Gheorghiță Vlad said that, considering the developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine, it is becoming increasingly evident that a substantial Allied presence is necessary in the Black Sea region and that the region’s relevance must remain a priority on the NATO agenda. Credible and efficient deterrence means earmarking forces and means and ensuring the flexibility of Battle Groups so that, if necessary, they may quickly reach brigade-level organisation, the chief of the Romanian Armed Forces General Staff insisted. (AMP)

  • Romania. Eastern Flank: Dacian Fall 2024, the largest NATO exercise this autumn

    Romania. Eastern Flank: Dacian Fall 2024, the largest NATO exercise this autumn

    The multinational exercise Dacian Fall 2024 of the Command of the Multinational Division Southeast took place between October 14-31 in the Getica National Joint Training Center in Cincu (in central Romania). The exercise was attended by approximately 1,500 soldiers from Romania, Belgium, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, the United States of America and France, as a framework nation, simultaneously in the Cincu, Smârdan (east), Capu Midia (south- east) and Bogata (northwest).

     

    Brigadier General Loïc Girard, France’s high military representative in Romania, present at the event, said that quote: ‘The scenario of the exercise was a fictitious one, in which we faced a potential aggressor-enemy. We aimed, through this scenario, to be able to regroup and have a good overall maneuvering of the entire joint and combined arms capability. You saw, at the beginning of the exercise, fighter jets from Spain, fighter jets from Romania, helicopters, drones, battle tanks, reconnaissance vehicles and so on. So, all of these capabilities are able to deploy, train and eventually fight if needed, said Loïc Girard.

     

    Participating in the exercise were also IAR 330 Puma Socat and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, as well as F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force, deployed in our country for the Enhanced Air Policing service. The exercise is part of the series of training events aimed at strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on the alliance’s eastern flank.

     

    On the other hand, the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, met the other day in Bucharest with his counterpart from the Kingdom of Norway, Bjørn Arild Gram. The discussions between the two officials focused on topical issues regarding regional security in the context of the conflict in Ukraine and the impact of the war in the neighboring country on the regions of strategic importance for Romania and Norway: the Black Sea, the Western Balkans and the Far North.

     

    The substantial support that Norway provides to Romania in relation to the purchase of an advanced Patriot surface-to-air missile system was another important topic of discussion. The financial contribution of approximately 127 million dollars offered by Norway to Romania is provided within the Immediate Action on Air Defense Initiative, coordinated by Germany. This funding reflects Norway’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic security and the concrete support given to Romania in replacing the Patriot system Romanian donated to Ukraine.

     

    Also in Bucharest, the Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru, received the visit of her German counterpart, Benedikt Zimmer, Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Defense. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen strategic dialogue and deepen bilateral cooperation in the field of defense. The talks between the two officials focused on the global and regional security situation, with an emphasis on the latest developments in the conflict in Ukraine and their impact on European security. The Romanian official emphasized the importance of continuing support for Ukraine, especially in the context of recent Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, and highlighted Romania’s contribution by donating a Patriot system, essential for the defense of the Ukrainian airspace. (LS, Andra Barbul)

  • NATO must stay united

    NATO must stay united

    NATO will work with the winner of the US elections, whoever that person may be and will do its best to stay united, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte promised on Monday. He was in Berlin for talks with German chancellor Olaf Scholz. “Whoever wins those elections, we will work with Kamala Harris, we will work with Donald Trump, and make sure that the alliance stays united,” said Rutte, a former prime minister of The Netherlands who took over at the helm of NATO from Jens Stoltenberg. “ I have no doubt, because it is in our interest. It is our interest here, but also the United States”, he added.

    Since taking office on 1st October, Mark Rutte has been saying he is not worried about the outcome of the American elections. He said he knows both candidates well and that he worked with Donald Trump for four years. Rutter went on to say that “they know that if Putin would be successful in Ukraine, that at that moment, an emboldened Russia is on our eastern flank and will present a direct threat to NATO territory”, saying that this is why Washington is involved in Ukraine and in NATO.

    Since taking office, Rutte has had a series of talks with political actors on the subject of the war in Ukraine. Last week, Rutte and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels that NATO and the European Union will create an operative group to consolidate cooperation between the two organisations. They warned that the deployment of North Korean military to Russia is a significant escalation of the war in Ukraine and a serious threat to European security and world peace.

    Last month, Mark Rutte met NATO foreign ministers, saying that the war in Ukraine showed that instability in Europe has global consequences and that countries thousands of km away, like China, Iran and North Korea can start to undermine Europe’s security. He emphasised that our worlds are interconnected, and so is security, adding that allies will comply with their promise to deliver defence aid worth 40 billion euros to Ukraine, with figures indicating expenses of almost 21 billion in the first part of 2024. The partners in the Pacific area also announced new aid deliveries, with Australia to send Ukraine tanks. Allies are also boosting investment within NATO and one of the priorities is air defence, especially in the context of the drones entering NATO air space as part of the war.

  • October 28, 2024 UPDATE

    October 28, 2024 UPDATE

    A roundup of local and international news.

     

    AGING The population of Romania in mid-2024 was 21,779,000, down 1% compared to June 1, 2023. According to the National Statistics Institute, demographic aging is deepening, with the over-65 age bracket now almost 1 million people larger than the under-14 segment. 55% of the Romanians live in urban communities, but urban-to-rural migration continues, and over 90,000 people moved to the countryside within a year. The number of women is now half a million larger than the number of men, and the national average age is close to 43.

     

    NATURAL GAS Romania has become the EU’s largest natural gas producer, with an output of 2.3 billion cubic metres in Q2, the energy minister Sebastian Burduja announced. According to him, Romania has outperformed the Netherlands, which reported 2.2 billion cubic metres, and compared to last year Romania’s natural gas output was 1% higher. Burduja added that most of the credit for this should go to the Romanian natural gas company, Romgaz, which in the first semester reported a 5% higher gas output than in the corresponding period of last year. The Romanian official explained that Romgaz intends to earmark EUR 120-160 million to increase production. This year alone, the Romanian company started operations with 7 new drilling rigs.

     

    SCHENGEN  Romania’s accession to the Schengen area with land borders, as soon as possible, is in the national interest of Hungary, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Monday according to the Hungarian press agency MTI. The government in Budapest hopes that this can happen before the end of the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council, on December 31, the Hungarian official also said, adding that Romania has taken all the necessary preparatory measures to join the border free area, as shown by the evaluations of Brussels experts and the almost unanimous support of EU members. Referring to Austria’s refusal to support Romania’s full entry into Schengen, the minister said that the Hungarian government is in permanent contact with Austrian officials on this matter. Romania’s accession would also be ‘in full agreement’ with the interests of the Hungarian ethnic community in Romania, Peter Szijjarto also said.

     

    NATO A delegation of the NATO Committee for Defense Policy and Planning is in Bucharest until October 30. According to a press release by the Ministry of Defence, the visit offers an opportunity to deepen collaboration and evaluate Romania’s contribution to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture. The NATO delegation was received at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, where the importance of strengthening allied solidarity in the current security context, with emphasis on the Black Sea region, was emphasized, and Romania’s priorities within NATO were highlighted.

     

    FUELS The average petrol price in Romania has gone up by 3.3% in the past month, to approx. EUR 1.44 per litre in Bucharest. During the same period, average diesel prices rose by 2.3%. Romania has the 7th-lowest petrol prices and the 9th–lowest diesel prices in the European Union.

     

    IMF An IMF mission led by Jan Kees Martijn will be in Bucharest between November 5 and 8, for a review of the latest economic and financial developments and of macroeconomic forecasts. In its latest “World Economic Outlook” report, released recently, the IMF lowered to 1.9% its estimate on Romania’s economic growth rate this year, from the July 2.8% forecast. According to the institution’s latest figures, in 2025 Romania is expected to see a 3.3% economic growth rate.

     

    DEBT According to the Romanian finance ministry, the country’s governmental debt reached approx. EUR 175 bln this July, accounting for 52% of GDP. Romania’s governmental debt is split between domestic debt (roughly EUR 85.7 billion), and foreign debt (approx. EUR 89.5 billion). On the other hand, the budget deficit estimated for 2024 is nearly 8% of GDP. Since 2020, Romania has been subject to an excessive deficit procedure, after in 2019 the country exceeded the 3% of GDP ceiling set under the Stability and Growth Pact. In 2021 the EU Council recommended that Romania bring its deficit below 3% by 2024.

     

    TENNIS The former WTA leader Simona Halep was defeated by Yue Yuan (China) on Monday, 6-3 6-3, in the first round of the WTA tournament in Hong Kong. It was for the first time that the Romanian player (aged 33, currently no. 869 WTA) played against Yuan (26, no. 44 WTA). The main draw of the Hong Kong tournament also includes Romania’s Ana Bogdan (109 WTA), who plays in the first round against Kimberly Birrell of Australia (111 WTA).

     

  • October 24, 2024 UPDATE

    October 24, 2024 UPDATE

    AID The European Commission on Thursday approved a state-aid scheme of 400 million Euros in compensations for the Romanian farmers affected by the severe drought between September 2023 – August 2024, says a communique released by the commission. The aid scheme has been made available for the agricultural producers whose crops of wheat, barley, oat, rape, sunflower and corn were directly affected by the drought. In order to benefit the compensations, farmers must prove that at least 30% of their crops were affected between the autumn of 2023 and the summer of 2024. Under the aforementioned aid scheme, farmers will benefit from direct grants amounting to 200 euros per hectares in the case of losses of 100% and will not exceed 30% of the eligible costs. Compensations will be granted until December 2024.

     

    F-16 According to the Ministry of National Defence, three F-16 Fighting Falcons, Romania bought from Norway landed in Campia Turzii, central Romania, to join the 48 Fighting Squadron. We recall that another 9 F-16s had been received earlier. Romania has signed a contract of buying 32 F-16 fighters with the Kingdom of Norway and the entire batch is expected to be completed at the end of the next year. According to a communiqué from Romania’s Defence Ministry, the aforementioned jet-fighters are to ensure the transition to the fifth generation of aircraft, F-35, whose purchase actually represents a transfer of capabilities between two NATO allies.

     

    ENERGY The energy minister Sebastian Burduja promised that national gas storage is enough for Romania not to need natural gas imports this winter. He added that Romania is not importing Russian gas at all, and when imports are needed it resorts to Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Romanian official also added that the people who have difficulties paying their bills will still be protected, even after April 1, 2025, when natural gas and electricity prices will no longer be capped.

     

    ELECTIONS The campaign for the first round of the presidential election begins on Friday at midnight and ends at 7 am on November 23. The presidential elections are scheduled this year on November 24 (the first round) and on December 8 (the second round). In between, on December 1, the parliamentary election will be held. Competing in the presidential race are 14 candidates, 10 of them backed by political parties and 4 running independently. Local and EU parliamentary elections were also held in Romania this year, on June 9.

    (bill)