NATO’s Secretary General makes his first visit to Romania to inaugurate local HQ

NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will visit Romania on Thursday, July 2, according to Romania’s Presidency. Stoltenberg will meet Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Ad interim Gabriel Oprea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu, and Minister of Defense Mircea Dusa. During his stay in Bucharest, Stoltenberg will participate in the inauguration of the NATO Forces Integration Unit Romania (NFIU) headquarters. Jens Stoltenberg, a former Prime Minister of Norway, began his mandate as NATO Secretary General in October 2014. This is his first visit to Romania. However, he met President Klaus Iohannis in Brussels, in January, when the two talked about Romania’s strategy to increase defense spending. Romania has become one of NATO’s key member states in the Eastern European flank, as tensions between Russia and the West have increased after Russia’s takeover of Crimea and its involvement in the Eastern Ukraine conflict. In February this year, NATO decided to open two command and control units in Romania by 2016. Two large scale military exercises bring 2,500 NATO soldiers to Romania President asks Parliament to approve NATO HQ in Romania Russia warns Romania on NATO forces strengthening NATO Secretary General: Romania is not at risk because of Russia NATO may bring heavy military gear to Romania First NATO command in Romania, operational in June editor@romania-insider.com