Romania Eyes Patriot Missiles for Ukraine's Defence
President Klaus Iohannis of Romania announced on Tuesday his openness to discussions regarding the possibility of sending a Patriot missile system to Ukraine.
This follows a call from Germany urging European Union and NATO member states to strengthen Ukraine's air defence capabilities, as reported by Reuters.
In the wake of repeated requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, EU governments faced pressure last month to provide Kyiv with more urgently needed defence systems. Germany pledged an additional Patriot battery, while Spain confirmed it would deliver Patriot air defence missiles. Other European nations, including Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Sweden, also possess Patriot systems.
"Recent discussions have centred on which countries can contribute Patriot missile systems to Ukraine," Iohannis told reporters in Washington after his meeting with US President Joe Biden.
"President Biden raised this issue during our meeting, and I indicated my openness to discussions," Iohannis continued. "I must consult with the Supreme Defense Council to determine what Romania can offer and what we can expect in return. Leaving Romania without adequate air defences is unacceptable."
In 2017, Romania signed a landmark $4 billion agreement to acquire Patriot systems, representing the largest procurement contract ever undertaken by the NATO and EU member states. The initial shipment was scheduled for delivery in 2020.
While Romania currently has only one operational battery, Iohannis clarified that the discussions focused on another battery nearing operational capacity.
A White House statement revealed that President Biden expressed gratitude to Romania for its commitment to security in eastern NATO, particularly the Black Sea region. He additionally commended Romania's defence spending, which surpasses NATO's target allocation of at least 2% of GDP to defence budgets.
"The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's unprovoked aggression," the White House statement continued. "President Biden expressed his appreciation for Romania's assistance to Ukrainian refugees and its efforts to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain to international markets."
The statement notably omitted any mention of Patriot missiles.
Romania, a NATO member since 2004, shares a 650-kilometre border with Ukraine. The country has repeatedly faced situations where fragments of Russian drones have landed on Romanian territory as a result of Moscow's attacks on Ukrainian ports located directly across the Danube River from Romania.
On Tuesday, Iohannis also confirmed discussions with President Biden regarding his candidacy for the NATO leadership position. Iohannis reiterated his commitment to his candidacy, despite strong support within the alliance, including from Biden himself, for outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "A competitive environment is beneficial," Iohannis remarked. "Two strong candidates will ensure a broader range of topics for discussion."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
