Romania hosting the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East (HQ MN BDE-SE) indicates the level of the country’s preoccupation with increasing security in the Black Sea region, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis said Monday.
“We are in the full swing of strengthening NATO’s defence and deterrence posture on NATO’s eastern flank. The fact that Romania is hosting the Headquarters Multinational Division South – East indicates our country’s high degree of preoccupation and involvement in increasing the security level, not only in our country but throughout the Black Sea region as well. To us, the role of provider of security and stability, a role that we have undertaken, is a goal that, once realised, we intend to strengthen it and to adjust it to regional and global developments,” Iohannis said in Craiova, the location of the HQ MN BDE-SE, where he and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg paid a joint visit on Monday.
“The Multinational Brigade South-East was set up precisely as a response to the environment of insecurity and instability in NATO’s proximity. The Euro-Atlantic space continues to face a series of challenges generated by state and non-state actors, by conventional military forces and terrorist entities.
“Likewise, cyber and hybrid threats are growing in relevance and are fuelling the uncertainty of the current security context,” President Iohannis stated.
“For us, the role of provider of security and stability, a role we have undertaken, is a goal that, once realised, we intend to strengthen it and to adjust it to regional and global developments.
“This new allied structure deployed on the national territory represents the result of the concerted effort of Romania, of the allies and of NATO, as an organisation,” he emphasised.
“The North Atlantic Alliance means, first of all, solidarity and unity, and the other NATO member states’ involvement – whether we are talking about the multinational personnel that includes the command of this brigade, or whether we are talking about the allies’ participation in joint training and exercise activities – carefully observes this principle,” the Head of State added.
He thanked the allied states that took the commitment to take part in this joint effort. “I’m convinced that the foreign servicemen present in our country, who come from Canada, Spain, Portugal and Poland, will appreciate our hospitality and will collaborate excellently with Romanian partners,” Iohannis stated.
“I’m happy that, during the relatively short period of time that has elapsed since the adoption of the decision to set up this NATO structure in Romania, important progress has been made, appreciated as such at Allied level. I’m confident we will continue to observe the commitments we have taken in this regard, so that, at the end of next year, we would achieve the full capacity of the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East,” the Head of State added.
On this occasion, he reiterated Romania’s commitment to continue to take part in the NATO presence in Poland, as part of the structure led by the U.S., and also in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.
“We are and will remain part of NATO’s effort to improve regional and global security through multidirectional approach,” Iohannis added.
Secretary General Stoltenberg says HQ MN BDE-SE servicemen send clear message of a united and powerful NATO
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commended the servicemen of the Headquarters Multinational Brigade South-East (HQ MN BDE-SE) on Monday, for their contribution to preserving the security of nations, adding that the message they convey is of a powerful and united NATO.
Stoltenberg stated that NATO reached 5,000 servicemen with a very-high level of operability and set up a chain of small command along the eastern flank of the Alliance.
He added that he is extremely delighted to be able to visit the brigade in Craiova, adding that he is grateful for Romania’s contribution to the collective security of the Alliance and for the support granted to other states, as host nation. Romania’s contribution to training forces from numerous countries and increasing the skills to work together and respond fast when needed was underscored by the NATO secretary General. He added that he got the opportunity to personally see the training level of the Romanian service people in theatres of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. He went on to say that the Romanian “Scorpions’ were among the first NATO units to serve in Afghanistan ever since 2002. Many countries deployed troops here, tens of NATO states committed themselves to contribute personnel for the headquarters of this brigade, he said, mentioning that Poland deployed a company, while Portugal, Bulgaria, Italy and Germany are to also contribute.
He told the service people in Craiova that NATO is a transatlantic alliance whose purpose is to maintain peace and security, that has the best and the most determined service people, men and women, and at the end he congratulated for their courage and professionalism.
