Remarks

Thank you, Minister. It's great to be back in Bucharest, and I'm looking forward to speaking at the Bucharest Forum tomorrow. 

The Minister has given a detailed summary of our very good meeting. We focused on the considerable work we have to do in preparation for next years Warsaw Summit. 

I'm confident we will get that work done, because Romania is a steadfast Ally, with consistent and strong engagement in our missions and operations. 

Romania also contributes to our efforts to bolster the security of our partners, such as Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. 

And you contribute to stability in the Black Sea, which remains of strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security.  

You are hosting an important part of the NATO missile defence system. 

And I am pleased you have made a political commitment to raise defence spending to 2 % of GDP by 2017. 

All these contributions help keep Romania strong and thereby help keep NATO strong.

And, more than ever, we need a strong NATO. 

We see a more assertive Russia, intimidating its neighbours and trying to change borders by force.

We see growing extremism and turmoil across North Africa and the Middle East.  

And we see challenges that know no borders, such as cyber attacks and energy cutoffs.

That is why NATO is now implementing the biggest reinforcement of our collective defence  since the end of the Cold War: increasing the strength and capability of the NATO Response Force; speeding up political and military decision-making; and setting up NATO Force Integration Units, including rthe one recently activated right here in Bucharest.

These units will play a key role in planning, exercises and assisting potential reinforcements. 

Romania will also host the Multinational Divisional Headquarters South-East, another important contribution to our collective defence. 

These are all defensive measures.  NATO does not seek confrontation with anyone. But we will do what is necessary to keep our countries safe. 

And we will also continue to pursue our vision of a Europe whole free and at peace, including keeping NATO's door open. 

I thank you, Mr. Minister, for your strong personal commitment to our Alliance. 

And I look forward to continuing to work closely with you.