We need a modern naval force if we
are to consolidate Romania’s strategic position in the Black Sea. 2018 will be
the starting point for achieving this goal, Mihai Fifor said last week. The
Romanian Defense Minister visited three strategic sites in the Black Sea: the
39 Diving Center in Constanta, the 256 Helicopter unit in Tuzla and the missile
carriers and corvettes in the military port of Mangalia.
Minister Fifor has
stated that the year 2018 will be devoted to modernizing the Romanian Naval
Forces, also recalling that Wednesday’s Government session will also occasion a
presentation of a project concerning the purchase of four multi-purpose
corvettes. The deal could go through by the end of the year, and the corvettes
will be manufactured in a shipyard in Romania. Bucharest authorities have also
pledged to refurbish the King Ferdinand and Queen Maria frigates.
Mihai Fifor has also said that Romania plans on building three submarines in
its shipyards, although this is a mid- to long-term project.
Mihai Fifor: I know this looks very ambitious, but I’m
telling you this project is completely feasible. We can build them in a
Romanian shipyard, and the same goes for any other type of ship.
Romania currently owns one
submarine, built in the former Soviet Union, which was last used in 1996.
Minister Fifor has pointed out that a non-negotiable and essential condition is
for these state-of-the-art products to be manufactured in Romania, so as to
channel major investments into Romania’s national defense industry. Also this
year, the Army plans to equip the Romanian navy with anti-ship missile defense
systems.
We’ve identified the financial resources and we’ll be able to get
this program started, so that by the end of the year we can finalize our
coastal artillery program as well. We want our army to play a key role in the
region, Minister Mihai Fifor said. At the same time, the Romanian official
pledged to support the plans for expanding the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase.
Minister Fifor wants a permanent American military presence in Romania, just
like in Poland. In turn, Vice-Admiral Alexandru Mirsu, the chief of the
Romanian Naval Forces military staff said Romania needed a strong and
well-equipped navy, considering Russia’s increased military presence in the
Black Sea.