The Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, held a meeting on Wednesday, January 15, at the ministry’s headquarters with the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Romania, Giles Matthew Portman, according to a press release from the MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE sent to NINE O’CLOCK.
The discussions focused on key aspects regarding Black Sea regional security, strengthening the defense dimension of the strategic partnership between Romania and the United Kingdom, and deepening cooperation within allied structures. A central topic of the conversations was enhancing NATO’s defense and deterrence posture on the eastern flank, with a particular focus on the Black Sea area, given the current security challenges.
Minister Tîlvăr highlighted the positive impact of the defense cooperation agreement signed in November 2024 in London with the UK Secretary of State for Defense, John Healey. This agreement strengthens regional security and shared commitments within NATO. He also emphasized Romania’s intention to continue developing the strategic partnership with the United Kingdom through active involvement in joint security and defense initiatives, support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, and bolstering assistance to the Republic of Moldova to enhance regional stability and security.
“The defense cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland confirmed the importance of our strategic partnership and opened new opportunities to strengthen bilateral military relations. Both countries have intensified efforts to ensure a firm and effective response to the security situation in the Black Sea region, thereby reinforcing the deterrence and defense posture against regional and global security challenges,” the Romanian official stated.
The Ministry of National Defense continues its intensive dialogue with Romania’s strategic partners to further develop international defense cooperation, generating the necessary tools to address the complex security challenges posed by the unpredictability of the international environment.
Background
On November 13, 2024, Minister of National Defense Angel Tîlvăr and UK Secretary of State for Defense John Healey signed a defense cooperation agreement in London designed to strengthen the long-standing partnership between Romania and the United Kingdom and address current security challenges.
The agreement consolidates and expands the strong existing relations in defense, aiming to jointly address current strategic issues with mutual benefits for the armed forces of both nations.
The document outlines areas such as logistics and defense support, technology, procurement, and capability development, resource planning, communications and information systems, countering hybrid threats, exercises, international operations under UN mandates, arms control, and military training and education.
Source: Ministry of National Defense Press Office