The support offered by NATO to Ukraine at the historic summit in Washington represents an additional guarantee that Ukraine and Moldova can fulfill their European path, while also sending a signal to Moscow that NATO will not tire in this effort, stated Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General, in an interview with CaleaEuropeană.ro.
“Through the decisions taken in Washington, we are sending a very clear message to Moscow, to the Russian Federation, and to others alike, that NATO is strong and determined to defend its territory, population, economy and infrastructure”, said Mircea Geoană, after the 2-day summit that marked the 75th anniversary of NATO.
“For Ukraine (the event) represents, I would say, more than a breath of oxygen. It is a guarantee that we will stay by their side as long as they need us. Because an independent Ukraine, capable of standing on its own feet as a democracy, as an economy, and as a military force, represents a counterweight to Russia’s aggression. It represents for us, for Romania, a territorially, militarily and strategically important strategic depth. For the Republic of Moldova, it represents an additional guarantee that its European path, the European path of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine can be fulfilled, strategically speaking”, said the NATO official.
The leaders of the 32 NATO member states approved on Wednesday a declaration endorsing the plans of Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to establish a NATO security assistance and training mission for Ukraine, with a command center in Germany and logistics centers in the east of the Alliance, including Romania. This comes with a pledge of 40 billion euros for the next year. NATO leaders also decided that the Alliance will take over the coordination and delivery of the majority of international security assistance to Ukraine.
On NATO enlargement, Mircea Geoană said that the organization “has never knocked on anyone’s door to ask them to do more than that particular country was willing to do with NATO”. “(Romania) was the one who wanted to join NATO, rather the other way around. Now, after centuries or decades of neutrality, Sweden and Finland realized Russia’s aggression and came to us. Moldova is an old partner of ours. We have had a very serious partnership over the past 30 years, we respect Moldova’s neutral status and we hope that it will join the EU as soon as possible”, said Mircea Geoană.
According to him, Moldova is a common partner of NATO and the European Union. “That’s why we, in an indirect way, also help the progress of European accession. All in due time. We have a very dynamic partnership with the Republic of Moldova, we respond to their requests. Politically and strategically, it is their call to make as to how quickly, how far they would be willing to advance in the relationship with NATO”, said Mircea Geoană.
