Interim President of Romania, Ilie Bologian, said today that his country does not plan to follow the example of Poland, which asked the United States to deploy nuclear warheads on its territory in order to deter possible Russian aggression. According to Bologian, Romania does not need such a move at this stage, Digi 24 TV reports, BTA reports.
„I think that for every country its security is important. What has been done in Romania in recent years is good. We have the NATO umbrella over us and the military bases of European and American allies in the country. These conditions provide us with protection and peace“, stressed Bologan.
He added that any initiative to strengthen NATO's eastern flank is positive, but the defense plan and military presence in Romania are sufficient at the moment.
Bologan's statements come after Polish President Andrzej Duda asked the United States to transfer nuclear weapons to Polish territory as a deterrent against possible aggression by Russia - a request that will likely be perceived by Moscow as a serious provocation.
“NATO's borders shifted eastward in 1999, so 26 years later there should also be a shift of the alliance's infrastructure eastward. "I think this is obvious," Duda said in an interview with the Financial Times.
At the same time, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu assured that Romania would not send soldiers to Ukraine and would not participate in any war, stressing that the country would continue to be a logistics hub.
“Our contribution to peace in Europe is significant. Romania and Poland are the pillars that guard the back of the frontline“, Ciolacu emphasized, adding that his country was clear in its position: “Romania will not send soldiers to Ukraine. We are a logistics hub and our contribution to peace in Europe is significant“.
Colaku also noted that Romania's Ministry of National Defense has its own armament plan, which has been approved by the Supreme Council of National Defense and adopted by the Romanian government.
“We want to produce as much equipment as possible on Romanian territory“, the prime minister added.