Ooni Koda
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Newsfeed
  4. /
  5. DefMin Ciuca and his U.S. counterpart discuss NATO...

DefMin Ciuca and his U.S. counterpart discuss NATO priorities, bilateral relations, military acquisitions

November 18, 2021

The talks held on Wednesday by the interim Minister of National Defence, Nicolae Ciuca, with the U.S. Secretary of Defence, Lloyd J. Austin III, currently visiting Bucharest, focused on NATO priorities in the perspective of the meeting that starts on Thursday in Brussels, bilateral relations and military acquisitions, informed the Ministry of National Defence (MApN).Minister Ciuca welcomed the receipt by Romania of the Dependable Undertaking status, which facilitates access to the latest American technology, highlighting the development of significant projects for the endowment of the Romanian Army in relation to the USA, based on the relevant budget allocations of 2% of GDP: ground-to-air missiles (PATRIOT), the multi-shot missile launcher system (HIMARS), the F16 multi-role aircraft, the Piranha 5 armored personnel carriers and the mobile anti-ship missile launcher system, a press release of the MApN issued for AGERPRES informs.Ciuca expressed appreciation for the significant American investments at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base and Campia Turzii, as well as to the Cincu and Babadag Shooting Grounds, worth over 225 million dollars.The two officials also addressed current issues on the Allied agenda, which will be discussed at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday."The Alliance is preparing for the Madrid Summit at the end of June 2022, with a view to defending common positions on adapting the Alliance, through what is known as the NATO 2030 process, and on strengthening a position of deterrence and defence effective in countering threats to Allied security, regardless of their origin," said Minister Ciuca.He reiterated the importance Romania attaches to strengthening Allied cohesion and the transatlantic relationship: "We want the Alliance to remain strong and able to protect all its members and respond to their concerns. That is why for Romania, the transatlantic relationship is an important pillar of our defence policy".In turn, Lloyd J. Austin III characterized the U.S.-Romania relationship as one based on trust and mutual respect and the political will to promote common goals in the field of defence, the MApN said.The U.S. Secretary of Defence thanked Romania for its support and commitment to host, on a rotating basis, a significant number of U.S. troops, emphasizing Romania's leading role in the region in ensuring its essential infrastructure against adverse actions.  

Read in full - click here
Romanian startup .lumen attracts new investment from EIT Urban Mobility to scale AI glasses for the blind

Romanian deep-tech startup .lumen, the developer of what it says are the world’s first AI-powered glasses for the blind, has secured a new investment from EIT Urban Mobility, the European innovation community focused on advancing sustainable and inclusive urban mobility solutions. The value of the new funding round was not disclosed. The investment aligns with […]

Report: Health spending per capita in Romania, lowest in the EU

The health spending per capita in Romania was the lowest in the EU, with spending less than half the EU average in 2023, the recently released report, State of Health in the EU - Romania Country Health Profile 2025, shows. At the same time, life expectancy in Romania is 5.1 years below the EU average, […]

Romania’s annual inflation rate holds steady at 9.8% in November

Romania’s annual inflation rate stood at roughly 9.8% in November 2025, similar to October, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Food prices increased by 7.6% last month, while services rose roughly 11% and non-food goods climbed 10.7%. The consumer price index rose by 0.42% in November compared with October, while […]

French soldiers save truck driver after serious accident on Romania’s A3 motorway

Three French soldiers deployed in Romania as part of NATO’s Multinational Battle Group at Cincu intervened to save a truck driver following a serious traffic accident on the A3 Bucharest–Ploiești motorway, the Romanian Ministry of Defense said. The incident occurred earlier this week as the soldiers were traveling toward Ploiești and witnessed the truck crash...

Smallest Art Fair in Town: Bucharest event focused on works on paper holds third edition

Eight contemporary art galleries will present the works of the artists they represent at the third edition of the Smallest Art Fair in Town, an event dedicated to works on paper. This edition showcases works “investigating the state of wandering, disorientation, and rediscovery in the face of uncertainty.” Under the title In Dark Woods, A […]

The Skills That Matter Most: How Emory University’s Cutting-Edge Curriculum Is Shaping the Future of Education and Why Verita Brought It to Romania

Parents everywhere are asking an important question: What skills will truly prepare a child for a world defined by rapid change, global uncertainty, and the rise of artificial intelligence? For decades, schools focused entirely on academics. Today, research from neuroscience, performance psychology, and leading universities shows a different reality: The students who thrive long-term are […]