Romanian PM, Turkish DefMin Discuss Regional Security Issues

Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca and Minister of Defense of the Republic of Turkey, Huluşi Akar, met at Victoria Palace in Bucharest and discussed the importance of the bilateral relationship limited to the Strategic Partnership, close economic cooperation, and shared interests concerns about regional security and the Black Sea.

The Prime Minister addressed the Ukrainian conflict, condemning the illegal, unprovoked, and unacceptable actions on the ground. The Prime Minister also made a direct link between the situation in the Black Sea and the need for NATO to include the Black Sea as a strategic interest region in the future Strategic Concept. The framework for energy cooperation was also discussed, as was Turkey’s role in transiting necessary amounts of gas to Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine via the Turkish transport system.
The bilateral agenda, economic and trade dimensions, military cooperation, and defence industry cooperation were discussed.

Minister Hulusi Akar was also welcomed at the Cotroceni Palace during his visit to Romania, where he met with President Klaus Iohannis.

The importance of this official meeting consists in strengthening the external relationship with Turkey, especially during these times of unstable regional security.