Germany's Ambassador to Romania: War against Ukraine has shown need to improve security and defense capabilities

The war of aggression that Russia continues to wage against Ukraine, alongside ongoing hybrid attacks against our Western democracy, poses a constant threat to peace and stability in Europe and has demonstrated the need for us to fundamentally enhance our security and defense capabilities, Angela Ganninger, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Romania, stated on Friday at the "Meet & Greet under the Wings" event."I firmly believe that cooperation is the key to addressing today's challenges. The war of aggression that Russia continues to wage against Ukraine, alongside ongoing hybrid attacks on our Western democracy, poses a constant threat to peace and stability in Europe?a threat felt most acutely on NATO's eastern flank and, among other places, here in Romania. Furthermore, our economies face significant challenges in rapidly changing global markets. Consequently, the world is no longer as secure and stable as we once perceived it to be. The war against Ukraine has demonstrated the need to fundamentally enhance our security and defense capabilities. We have seen that air defense plays a dominant role in modern warfare," said Ganninger.The German Ambassador to Romania also emphasized that manned and unmanned aerial systems?alongside fighter jets and drones?must be capable of cooperating effectively during missions."The battlefield is shaped by a large number of drones and counter-drone capabilities. Drones can operate in swarms?increasingly autonomously and coordinated by artificial intelligence. Ballistic and cruise missiles, along with other air warfare weapons, constantly strike military and civilian targets at long range. Through joint initiatives?such as the European Sky Shield Initiative or NATO-led efforts?we have addressed these threats and will continue to do so in the future. We have also learned from the war in Ukraine that state-of-the-art long-range strike and electronic warfare capabilities are essential for deterrence. Manned and unmanned aerial systems, such as fighter jets and drones, must be capable of effective cooperation during missions. Support via resilient communication links, navigation, sensors, and detection capabilities is crucial; these systems are designed for stealth and to keep aerial assets at a safe distance from threats," the official stated.According to the cited source, technical innovations and improvements must be developed and implemented without delay in order to remain competitive."Another key lesson from the war in Ukraine is that scale matters?specifically, the industrial capacity to rapidly ramp up production. Weapons such as drones or air defense systems are needed in large numbers and quickly to make a difference. Technical innovations and improvements must be developed and implemented without delay to maintain a competitive edge on the battlefield. This is only possible with a strong and innovative industrial base, which forms the backbone of our prosperity and security. The situation in Ukraine has clearly demonstrated that no country can succeed alone. We need partners who share our values ??and are willing to cooperate. For Germany, Romania is such a partner?and not only within NATO and the EU. At a bilateral level, we have committed to strengthening defense capabilities and assuming greater responsibility for ensuring collective security," noted Angela Ganninger.She noted that major German companies are currently working closely with Romanian security forces, as well as with private and public companies in Romania."We have achieved closer alignment and integration of our procurement procedures?for instance, through secure EU-wide arrangements, including major acquisitions in the air defense sector. Leading German defense companies are working hand-in-hand with Romanian security forces, as well as with public and private companies in Romania, establishing a presence that benefits both Romania and Germany. I am convinced that there is even greater potential for our cooperation. By accelerating the pace of innovation, development, procurement, production, and delivery?and by increasing volume?we can further expand our strong, trust-based cooperation," the ambassador emphasized.The Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce (AHK Romania) organized the "Meet & Greet under the Wings" event on Friday, on the sidelines of the Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS) 2026.