More than 1,000 Romanian soldiers participated in trainings and missions abroad last year

More than 1,000 troops of the Romanian Land Forces have taken part in military exercises and missions abroad in 2015, according to Major General Dumitru Scarlat. The Romanian soldiers participated in 70 major national and multinational exercises, and intervention missions in support of the population. Another primary objective of the Romanian Land Forces last year was increasing the efficiency of its military equipment, including tanks, amphibious armored vehicles, and fighting vehicles of the infantry. The maintenance and repair work was done by local companies, according to a statement of the Romanian Land Forces. Romania has increased its military spending, which is directed mainly at training its troops and upgrading its military equipment, as the country aims to consolidate its presence in NATO. NATO opened two command and control units in Romania last year and may also bring troops into the country as part of a wider strategy to strengthen its eastern borders. NATO decides to send more troops to Eastern Europe, including Romania Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com