Romanian Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs visits Italy: Discusses continued support for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia
Romanian Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs Iulian Fota visited Italy on 19-21 April, where he held talks with Maria Tripodi, Secretary of State in the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, on the deteriorating regional security situation, according to Agerpres.
According to a press release issued on Friday by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two officials discussed topics such as strengthening bilateral cooperation, the deterioration of the regional security situation following Russia's aggression against Ukraine, measures to strengthen security in the Black Sea region, strengthening NATO's position on the Eastern flank, continuing support for Ukraine, as well as for the Republic of Moldova and Georgia.
Security challenges in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and Africa and actions within NATO and the EU to counter them were also discussed. In this context, the Romanian Secretary of State thanked Italy for its contribution to strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence posture in Romania and security in the Black Sea area and the Western Balkans, according to the source.
Iulian Fota also travelled to the NATO Joint Command in Naples, where he met with the head of the command, Admiral Stuart Munsch, and his deputy, Lieutenant General Stephen Kelsey. On this occasion, the implementation of the Madrid NATO Summit decisions on strengthening the Allied deterrence and defence posture and security in the wider Black Sea region was discussed, as well as elements relevant to the preparation of the Vilnius NATO Summit.
Secretary of State Iulian Fota appreciated the efforts of the NATO military, including the Romanian military, to implement the decisions aimed at strengthening the Alliance's support for Romania's security, as well as the special contribution to these efforts by the Romanian military in the Naples Command structure. The discussions underlined that Romania's security is guaranteed and that every inch of national territory is and will be defended, the press release said.
