222 Portuguese soldiers from all three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces left Figo Maduro airport early this morning on a NATO mission to help bolster the ‘south-eastern flank’ of the Alliance in the context of the war in Ukraine, https://www.portugalresident.com/ informs. The ‘Força Nacional Destacada’ (Deployed National Force) of men and women was due to have taken part in a NATO ‘Tailored Forward Presence’ mission in Romania (which borders Ukraine) during the last three months of this year. Russia’s invasion however brought the plan forwards. The contingent’s mission involves ‘enhanced Vigilance Activities’ or eVA, which Portugal’s head of the Armed Forces Admiral Silva Ribeiro described as designed to “affirm the cohesion and determination of the Allies, and increase NATO’s readiness to dissuade a possible aggression on its territory”. The 222 include a ‘motorised infantry reinforced with Stinger anti air missiles, and a team of ‘special Ops’ forces. The military flew from Portugal to Greece, where they were reunited with dozens of armoured vehicles, including Pandurs and VAMTACs, transported ahead of them last week. The rest of the journey is being made overland, with the soldiers joining those of other countries in southern Romania, roughly 600 km from Odessa (Ukraine). President Marcelo, the minister of defence and a number of high-ranking military were at the send off at 6.30 this morning, with Prime Minister António Costa sending a message, in which he said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “requires a clear statement of NATO’s deterrent force”, as it is “a grave violation of international law”. “It cannot be repeated often enough: any possible aggression against a NATO-allied country is an aggression against all of us”, the PM added, stressing the ‘sense of duty’ in Portugal being involved in such a mission. President Marcelo made a point of shaking the hands of all the soldiers setting off today after a brief speech stressing the defensive role of Portuguese troops. “An alliance that does not attack is prepared to prevent, preserve and defend peace. This is also your mission”, he told them.
Ion Iliescu, Romania’s first president after the fall of communism in December 1989 and one of the country’s most influential and controversial political figures, died on Tuesday, August 5, at the age of 95. His death was announced by the government, which expressed condolences to his family and stated that details regarding the state funeral […]
A large medieval cemetery was discovered this week at the Hasdeu High School in Lugoj, western Romania. The complex may have extensions into the surrounding yards and a high historical importance. Although the excavations are only just beginning, with an estimated 10% of the necessary work completed so far, the discoveries have already showed promise. […]
A trilateral working meeting for the creation of a regional cybersecurity alliance between Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine took place on July 30 in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. The establishment of such a union would boost Romania's role in region. "The National Cybersecurity Directorate considers that the initiative to establish a cybersecurity coalition between Romania, […]
Two Dacian gold bracelets from the collection of the National History Museum of Romania (MNIR) have been recently 3D scanned as part of a digital preservation project highlighting these exceptional archaeological pieces. The initiative, launched by the museum, aims to showcase the artistry and cultural significance of Dacian goldsmithing. Crafted with remarkable skill, the spiral-shaped […]
Arad, a city in western Romania dubbed the “Little Vienna,” will organize a celebration of its history and culture in the Austrian capital, between August 8 and 20. The Days of Arad Culture begin on August 8 with the photo exhibition "Arad of Yesterday and Today," which will highlight the architectural connection of the city […]
In a report published on Tuesday, August 5, the Group of States against Corruption, or GRECO, said that Romania has fully implemented two of the 26 recommendations made in the 2023 Fifth Round Evaluation Report on preventing corruption and promoting integrity among top executive functions of the central government and law enforcement. Out of the […]
