Romania’s foreign minister has said that the country hopes to quickly start producing defensive drones with Ukraine for its own needs, as well as to provide them to the European Union and NATO, writes the news agency Reuters.
Toiu told Reuters that talks on the joint production of drones had begun even before Russia’s violations of NATO airspace. She said that she believes that NATO’s eastern flank needs to be better protected, especially when it comes to air defense. That is why Romania is establishing cooperation with Ukraine to be able to start producing defensive drones. The minister noted: “We believe in our capacity to make it a reality fast.”
NATO countries’ tense relations with Moscow have worsened after Russian drones repeatedly violated the alliance’s airspace in September – drones were shot down in Poland on the night of the 10th of September, while Estonia reported Russian fighter jets in its airspace. Russia has denied all allegations, saying Moscow has never directly targeted EU or NATO countries and has no plans to do so.
The Romanian minister’s comments on drone production come as
Ukraine prepares to ease restrictions on the export of its weapons
used against Russian occupiers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Ukrainian weapons in an address to the UN General Assembly, suggesting that cooperation with Kiev works both ways. The European Union has backed a plan to build a “drone wall.”
Toyiu was also told that Romania had agreed to station more US troops in the country, which are planned to be deployed to the Middle East.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to office, European allies have been concerned about a possible reduction in the US military presence in Europe, given the growing threat from Russia.
Romania already has a significant number of US troops stationed there and plans to invest more than 2.5 billion euro in its main air base to expand it.
Read also: Orbán: So what that our drones fly into Ukraine?
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