The Minister of Defense made a series of very important information regarding NATO and the war in Ukraine at the end of 2022, bringing to the attention of millions of people what our country has done in terms of the conflict that is taking place right at the borders his, and which remains a very serious danger.
The Minister of Defense took over his mandate at the end of 2022, so he talks about the decisions taken by his predecessor during most of the war, which is still ongoing, but he also talks about what Romania is preparing to do in 2023, especially from the point of view of the military endowment.
"2022 was a year marked by fundamental changes from the point of view of regional and European security, determined by the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression launched by the Russian Federation on Ukraine. Romania firmly condemned the aggression of the Russian forces on our neighbors and supported, from the first day of the invasion, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.
Our country provides Ukraine with humanitarian assistance, political, diplomatic and economic support and acts to strengthen EU support for the neighboring country. In the year ending, the Ministry of National Defense made efforts to strengthen Romania's profile within NATO, as a pillar of security and stability in the region and strengthening defense and ensuring security in the Black Sea region.
Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities on the front in Ukraine, the North Atlantic Alliance activated, for the first time in its history, elements of the NATO Response Force, deploying forces and combat equipment on the territory of the allied countries on the eastern flank, including in Romania. More than 5.000 allied soldiers train together with the Romanian military, thus our country is better protected and defended.
Currently, the Collective Defense Battle Group led by France operates in Romania, as a framework nation, consisting of forces belonging to the Netherlands and Belgium, the structures deployed by the US Army - the Stryker battalion belonging to the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment, deployed from the end of February and the elements of the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, starting in October, as well as the contingents from Poland, Portugal and North Macedonia subordinated to the Southeast Multinational Brigade from Craiova.
In 2022, the Ministry of Defense accelerated the process of equipping the army with modern equipment. The contract for the purchase of 32 F-16 aircraft from the Government of Norway was signed, equipment related to the HIMARS systems was received, the framework agreement for the supply of 7 UAS-TO class II systems was awarded and specific procedures were started for other important programs, such as Stage I of the "Light Armored Tactical Vehicles (ATBTU)" endowment program."
