Simona Cojocaru. Photo: mapn.ro
The Defense Cooperation Agreement signed between India and Romania earlier this week will enhance cooperation through exchange of expertise and knowledge on topics of mutual interest, including co-development and co-production of military hardware, Secretary of State and Department of Defense Policy said the Head of Planning and International Relations of Romania, Simona Cojocaru.
“The agreement will promote cooperation in the field of defense between our states. In addition, this agreement will open up enormous opportunities in areas such as defense medicine, scientific research, cyber defense, technology and research and development,” Ms Cojocaru said in a written response to questions. Hindu on his visit earlier this week.
deepening relationships
The Defense Secretary Shri Giridhar Armane and his Romanian counterpart Smt. Simona Cojocaru holding bilateral talks in New Delhi on March 28, 2023. Photo: Press Information Bureau
During his visit, he held discussions with his Indian counterpart Defense Secretary Giridhar Armane. To this he said the talks covered a range of issues including “the security situation in the Black Sea region and the Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in multilateral frameworks”. “We also discussed approaches to the development of bilateral cooperation on matters of interest such as exchange of experience in scientific research in the fields of cyber defense, training and education, communications and informatics, military medicine, defense policy and military history Is. , as well as in the techno-military field.
Ms. Cojocaru said that “India represents an important partner for Romania in the Indo-Pacific region” and that the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy represents an opportunity to advance cooperation between the EU and India. He said the Road Map to 2025 of the ‘EU-India Strategic Partnership’ and the commitments made at the EU-India Leaders’ Meeting in May 2021 to further EU-India cooperation and promote regional security in India Provides the right framework. Prashant.
The Defense Secretary Shri Giridhar Armane and his Romanian counterpart Mrs. Simona Cojocaru in New Delhi on March 28, 2023. Photo: Press Information Bureau
Excerpts from his written interview with Hindu:
Can you share some details on the defense deal signed between India and Romania? What is its purpose?
This is an emerging breakthrough in our bilateral relations. The Agreement will promote cooperation in the field of defense between our states, based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, in accordance with our own national and international policies. It will enhance our cooperation through exchange of expertise and knowledge on subjects of mutual interest. Apart from this, this agreement will open up huge opportunities in areas like defense medicine, scientific research, cyber-defense, technology and research and development.
My visit to New Delhi is a testimony to the importance Romania, a member of NATO and the European Union, attaches to the Indo-Pacific region and bilateral relations with India. We are certainly aware of the strategic importance of the region and share a common interest in a global order based on norms and respect for international law.
What was the focus of the discussion with the Indian Defense Secretary?
I would like to thank Defense Secretary Armaan for his incredible hospitality and a thorough politico-military discussion. We touched on a number of topics such as: the security situation in the Black Sea region and the Indo-Pacific region and cooperation in multilateral frameworks. We also discussed approaches to the development of bilateral cooperation on matters of interest such as exchange of experience in scientific research in the fields of cyber-defense, training and education, communications and informatics, military medicine, defense policy and military history Is. , as well as in the techno-military field.
In addition, we touched upon aspects of cooperation under the auspices of the United Nations and India’s relations with the European Union. Cooperation within multilateral formats is equally important and this in turn can create new opportunities for cooperation. I expressed my appreciation for the important role played by India in ensuring regional and global balance, as well as its major contribution to UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
I have also highlighted the serious impact of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine on Euro-Atlantic security, which has major ramifications not only in the Black Sea region or Europe, but also globally.
The Russian war is undoubtedly the most significant and direct security threat to Allied security in decades. In response to Russia’s brutal aggression, NATO allies reacted decisively, in a united and responsible manner. We will always maintain our full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
Russia also seeks to undermine the rules-based international order through its coercive military posture and actions. Russia’s continued actions to destroy and sabotage the structure of arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation have a negative impact on strategic stability.
I want to make one thing very clear. The umbrella of NATO collective defense is a shield for each allied state, including Romania. NATO is a defensive alliance and does not seek confrontation with any state.
How do you want to take the cooperation forward in co-development and co-production and what are the areas/methods you are looking at? Any possibility of Romania sourcing systems/hardware from India?
I believe that the agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of India will provide a legal framework for future cooperation in the field of defence, including possible cooperation in the above areas. This is ground zero for any collaboration.
Assessing the lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the increasing level of technology employed on the battlefield, hybrid and other asymmetric threats, the malicious use of emerging and disruptive technologies have fundamentally changed the nature of military conflict by adding new Is. Dimensions. We need to be ready.
In this regard and benefiting from the increase in the defense budget implemented from 2023 onwards (2% to 2.5% GDP), the Romanian Armed Forces are thus able to re-prioritize and accelerate procurement and acquisition programs, national forces appropriately consolidate the operational capabilities of accelerate capability development plans, but also consider new national projects aimed at moving towards the drone warfare era.
In the context of developments in the Indo-Pacific from a broader perspective, how does Romania see India and how do you intend to take this forward both bilaterally and multilaterally?
We value the importance of collaborating with like-minded partners from the Indo-Pacific. The challenges before us are interlinked and developments in the region in India will have an impact in Europe, and vice versa. Thus, relations with our Indo-Pacific partners are especially important in addressing global challenges and defending the rules-based international order at the bilateral as well as multilateral level.
The Indo-Pacific region and the Republic of India have increased strategic relevance on the international scene. As the EU is committed to developing a distinctive role in the region, including deepening the security and defense dimension with partners in the Indo-Pacific, we believe that the EU’s partnership with India will yield positive results. important to obtain.
India represents an important partner for Romania in the Indo-Pacific region and we are interested in deepening our bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of our countries. Furthermore, the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific represents an opportunity to advance cooperation between the EU and India in the region. Romania will continue to actively participate in the Indo-Pacific in the framework of the EU’s strategy for cooperation in the region.