"A vital component of Romania's decision to improve its defense"

The impact of Romania's acquisition of Patriot missiles will be profound and this will indirectly "contribute to the defense of the neighboring countries and the entire NATO Alliance", US Ambassador to Romania Hans Klemm said in an interview with TVR.

Hans Klemm reminded that earlier this year, "Romania, the Ministry of Defense, has started talks with the United States on the purchase of Patriot missile batteries and in this process the United States and other US government agencies have had to give their approval".

"It's part of a process that I'm sure will eventually lead to the acquisition by Romania of these capabilities offered by the Patriot missiles," the diplomat said, according to Agerpres.

Asked about the impact of this acquisition, Hans Klemm replied that it would be profound.

He emphasized the defensive role of these capacities.

"It will offer protection in the case of aggressive air strikes not only for Romania, but indirectly for the neighboring countries and the entire NATO Alliance", he said.

Hans Klemm added that this measure is part of Romania's commitment to invest 2% of its GDP on Defense, "a commitment that the United States strongly supports".

"Patriot missiles are not the only equipment that Romania will buy as a result of this commitment to allocate 2% , but they are a vital component of Romania's decision to improve its defense," he said.

Asked whether this acquisition will lead to tensions with Russia, Hans Klemm replied: "There is absolutely no reason for this to happen, the capacities that Romania acquires are strictly defensive".

Two weeks ago, the US State Department approved a possible sale of Patriot missile defense systems to Romania worth 3.9 billion dollars, a Pentagon agency announced, quoted by Reuters.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei