Defense Minister in Bucharest: Russian drones entering Romanian space will be shot down
Russian drones that enter Romania's airspace will be shot down, similar to actions taken by Poland. Romanian authorities are in constant contact with the NATO command center, stated Minister of National Defense Ionuţ Moşteanu during the Insider Politic show on Prima TV, according to CaleaEuropeana.ro.
Minister Ionuț Moșteanu stated, "Every week, we are in communication with the Ministry of Defense regarding instances of drones in northern Dobrogea, very close to the border. Last night, the air police deployed their aircraft to ensure the safety of our citizens. We will protect our country and the safety of every citizen."
When asked whether Russian drones entering Romanian airspace would be shot down, Moșteanu referenced the legislative framework adopted this spring. "After the law was passed in Parliament, there is now a hierarchy of command. In specific cases, as the minister, I must approve engagement, and if necessary, I will do so. In the past two months, there have been instances where approvals were requested upon detecting certain aircraft entering Romanian-controlled airspace, and I granted those approvals. We maintain constant contact with the NATO command center and coordinate these actions with our allies," he explained.
Regarding incidents in Poland, the defense minister suggested that they were a provocation by Russia—essentially a test of NATO's response—and not merely coincidental or accidental.
On Friday evening, NATO announced the launch of a significant deterrence and defense mission along the eastern flank, called "Eastern Sentry." This operation will mobilize military resources from several allied nations, including Denmark, France, Great Britain, and Germany.
According to the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, the "Eastern Sentry" operation aims to defend allied territory from the Far North to the Black Sea. The ministry also noted that Romania's security assessments and analyses concerning threats posed by the use of drones have been crucial in strengthening defense and deterrence measures on the eastern flank, as reported by CaleaEuropeana.ro.
