Every Ally has NATO's full protection, NATO Secretary General says in Romania
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that Romania does not stand alone in light of the crisis unfolding on NATO's borders. During his visit to Bucharest on Friday (16 May 2014), Mr Fogh Rasmussen stressed that the Alliance would do what is necessary to defend all its members: “You are part of NATO and every Ally has NATO’s full protection.”
Mr. Fogh Rasmussen held talks with President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean and the Minister of Defence Mircea Dusa. The Secretary General said he was particularly happy to visit Romania as it marks the 10th anniversary of its accession to NATO. “During those years Romania has been a staunch ally. Thank you very much for your commitment, not least your contributions to NATO-led operations and also participation in multinational defence projects, including missile defence,” the Secretary General said. He specifically commended Romania on its decision to invest more on defence: “You have shown that it is possible to reverse the trend of declining defence budgets and make substantial investments in substantial capabilities.”
The Secretary General said that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine undermines the principles on which peace and prosperity were built in Europe, including the free right of nations to determine their own future and the rejection of so-called spheres of influence. Now more than ever, he said, “it is clear that defence matters and that the strong bond between Europe and North America remains the strong foundation for our security.” He reiterated that the Alliance’s core task is to defend and protect all Allies and NATO has strengthened its presence in the air, at sea and on the ground, including Romania. “We will do what is necessary for as long as required,” Mr Fogh Rasmussen said.