Poland is enhancing the strategic perception of Romania and other Eastern flank countries within NATO. Together, we are reinforcing the significance of the Eastern border within the Alliance and our awareness of threats, assessed Romanian military expert Claudiu Degeratu in an interview with the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
“For Romania, Poland has been a model in terms of integration with NATO and the EU,” Degeratu told PAP in connection with the upcoming 25th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. Romania will also celebrate its 20th anniversary of NATO accession later in March.
“It is a joint achievement of both Poland and Romania that we managed to confirm the importance of the Eastern border and security agenda within the Alliance,” the analyst believes.
“Over the past 10 years (following the annexation of Crimea and the onset of Russia’s war in Donbas), it was the voices of Poland and Romania that were crucial in indicating the threat posed by Russia and assessing it,” Degeratu stated, adding that Poland and Romania effectively promoted these issues on the agenda of the North Atlantic Alliance.
“For Romania, Poland has been a strong, strategic partner. It has strengthened our strategic perception within the Alliance because it is shared when it comes to assessing threats in the East,” the analyst emphasized.
Degeratu pointed out Poland’s initiated regional formats, such as the Three Seas Initiative or the Bucharest Nine, which envisage strengthening regional cooperation, including defense.
Similarly to Poland in the northern east of the Alliance, Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, is a flank state in the south. Both countries cooperate within the alliance, the EU, but also within the Bucharest Nine, a format connecting Eastern flank countries (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Hungary), as well as the Three Seas Initiative.
The Romanian expert is convinced that “today the Alliance is in a better position, having countries like Poland and Romania within.”
“We have added a lot of value, and we are no longer ‘new.’ NATO is the strongest and best defensive alliance in history, and Poland and Romania have contributed to this success,” evaluates the PAP interlocutor.
“NATO membership fundamentally also impacts the economy. The Alliance provides its members with security guarantees that allow for development, obtaining good ratings from international and financial organizations,” Degeratu explained.
“It is a joint achievement of both Poland and Romania that we managed to confirm the importance of the Eastern border and security agenda within the Alliance,” the analyst believes.
“Over the past 10 years (following the annexation of Crimea and the onset of Russia’s war in Donbas), it was the voices of Poland and Romania that were crucial in indicating the threat posed by Russia and assessing it,” Degeratu stated, adding that Poland and Romania effectively promoted these issues on the agenda of the North Atlantic Alliance.
“For Romania, Poland has been a strong, strategic partner. It has strengthened our strategic perception within the Alliance because it is shared when it comes to assessing threats in the East,” the analyst emphasized.
Degeratu pointed out Poland’s initiated regional formats, such as the Three Seas Initiative or the Bucharest Nine, which envisage strengthening regional cooperation, including defense.
Similarly to Poland in the northern east of the Alliance, Romania, which joined NATO in 2004, is a flank state in the south. Both countries cooperate within the alliance, the EU, but also within the Bucharest Nine, a format connecting Eastern flank countries (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, and Hungary), as well as the Three Seas Initiative.
The Romanian expert is convinced that “today the Alliance is in a better position, having countries like Poland and Romania within.”
“We have added a lot of value, and we are no longer ‘new.’ NATO is the strongest and best defensive alliance in history, and Poland and Romania have contributed to this success,” evaluates the PAP interlocutor.
“NATO membership fundamentally also impacts the economy. The Alliance provides its members with security guarantees that allow for development, obtaining good ratings from international and financial organizations,” Degeratu explained.
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