“In Europe and Romania, the American presence is more powerful than in 2020,” echoed Romanian President Nicușor Dan, speaking from a vast marbled Union Hall in Bucharest’s sprawling Cotroceni Palace. “So there is no concern, no worry.”
The comments come as the alliance faces escalating airspace violations and hybrid attacks. Russian drones have been intercepted and shot down over Poland in recent months while another Russian drone was tracked over Romania; drones of unknown origin have disrupted air traffic at airports in Denmark, Norway and Germany.
In response to the incursions, NATO has agreed to deploy more warplanes and air defense systems to frontline countries in a new program called “Eastern Sentry.”
Rutte suggested the new deployments could also help fill any gap left by U.S. withdrawals. “With this Eastern Sentry, we can bring more capabilities to bear wherever and whenever needed … also in Romania,” he said.
“This military activity not only adds additional assets from allies, it also better connects the range of assets already available all along our eastern flank,” Rutte added.
The alliance is also currently carrying out beefed-up military exercises in Romania, the NATO chief said. Allies are scaling up participating troops “from 1,500 to over 5,000 troops so that we are able, whenever necessary, to immediately get all the troops in Romania needed,” Rutte argued.