Romania has officially requested NATO “to deploy additional counter-drone capabilities to strengthen our defence and that of the Alliance’s eastern flank” after a Russian drone strike on the city of Galati.
Nicușor Dan, the Romanian president, convened an emergency meeting of the country’s military and defence council on Friday “to discuss the implications of the most serious incident to have affected our national territory” since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine.
“The unprecedented nature of this event calls for a firm, coordinated, and proportionate response at the national level, within the alliance, and internationally,” he said.
“The Russian Federation bears full responsibility for this incident. What happened today in Galați is a direct consequence… of the irresponsible and reckless manner in which Moscow uses these weapons systems in the immediate vicinity of NATO borders,” he added.
Dan also said “all NATO allies and EU partners have been informed of the incident” and “communication with allied military structures is taking place in real time”.
“Romania is a NATO member state and will under no circumstances accept that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine should have repercussions on its citizens,” he said.
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Mark Rutte, the alliance’s secretary-general, assured Romania of “NATO’s absolute solidarity”.
“I affirmed that NATO stands ready to defend every inch of allied territory. We will continue to enhance our readiness to deter and defend against any threat, including from drones,” he said.
“Last night showed yet again that the implications of their illegal war of aggression don’t stop at the border,” he added.
António Costa, the president of the European Council, pledged “full solidarity and support to Romania”.
“Russia’s escalation on EU territory is reckless and irresponsible. I condemn in the strongest terms this violation of Romania’s national airspace and of international law,” he said.
“The EU is united in stepping up pressure on Russia through sanctions and strengthening defence capabilities, in particular along our Eastern border,” he added.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said: “Russia’s war of aggression has crossed yet another line. A Russian drone incursion struck a densely populated area in Romania, injuring civilians.”
During the latest Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels in May, Radu-Dinel Miruță, Romanian defence minister, told Euractiv that the country would raise concerns with other capitals about repeated drone incursions from the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Miruță urged EU defence ministers to adopt a coordinated approach within the EU and NATO, warning that the incidents reflect a wider security threat to Europe’s eastern flank linked to Russian drone activity.
Pietro Guastamacchia contributed to reporting.
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The article has been updated with Dinel Miruță’s comments.
Source:
www.euractiv.com
