As a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally, Romania has been leading by example, and it has played an exceptional role in the Afghanistan mission, and it continues to play an important role in the security of the Western Balkans and the Black Sea area, said the NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen during his official visit to Romania.

In a video blog shot while in Bucharest (video below), Rasmussen speaks about Romania’s trend reversal of declining defense spending, and about the country’s investments in NATO capabilities, including in missile defense.

He reminded of the crisis in Romania’s neighborhood, triggered by Russia’s illegitimate actions in Ukraine, and which is about more than Ukraine. „it is about the world we have built since the end of the Cold War,” said Rasmussen.

In response to Russia's aggression, the NATO has taken immediate steps to safeguard all allies, in this region and beyond, with more planes in the air, more ships at sea, and more exercises on the ground. „And we will take further steps if needed,” the NATO secretary general reassured.

Romania is showing the way and „I can safely say, that NATO can count on Romania, and Romania can count on NATO,” Rasmussen concluded.

Romania joined NATO in 2004. Anders Fogh Rasmussen has met several Romanian officials, including president Traian Basescu (in picture, right) during his official visit to Romania on May 15 and 16.

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editor@romania-insider.com