Strengthening the Eastern Flank is not an abstract concept or a slogan, but a concrete effort advanced daily through decisions, investments and real missions, interim Defence Minister Radu Miruta said.

A delegation of the Ministry of National Defence (MApN), led by Radu Miruta, paid a working visit on Friday to the Romanian 'Carpathian Vipers' detachment deployed at the Siauliai air base in Lithuania. On the sidelines of the visit, the minister held a bilateral meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart, Robertas Kaunas.

'I thank my Lithuanian counterpart, Robertas Kaunas, for the extremely open and practical discussion we had on how we must strengthen our defence capabilities on the Eastern Flank from north to south, and for the appreciation expressed regarding the way Romanian servicemen carry out their missions in defending Baltic airspace. The Romanian military's recent success, having played a decisive role in neutralising a drone, sent a clear message: on the Eastern Flank, vigilance, professionalism and allied cooperation work. It is the result of a joint effort, shared experience and military cooperation that produces concrete effects. Once again, I thank the Romanian servicemen for the way they fulfilled their mission and represented Romania,' the interim defence minister wrote in a Facebook post.

He specified that, during discussions with the Lithuanian side, he stressed one essential point: 'security is not only about military equipment and defence capabilities, but also about society's trust in its own institutions and public support for defence efforts.'

'I appreciated that he shares my view on how important it is for us to focus, in parallel, not only on strengthening ourselves through military equipment, but also on limiting the effects of the wave of disinformation and propaganda, which has a single goal: to divide us, weaken trust among us and erode our ability to react together. Lithuania, like Romania and other states on the Eastern Flank, faces this type of pressure every day. That is why I proposed that the Ankara Summit include a substantial discussion on disinformation as a major security risk, and that Eastern and Baltic states build a common message based on their direct experience, to show how real and dangerous this phenomenon is,' Radu Miruta said.

The two ministers also discussed the need to accelerate the development of European and local defence industries so they can respond more rapidly to growing security demands and deliver the necessary capabilities within a timeframe compatible with today's realities.

'The security of the Eastern Flank is built through well-trained people, strong partnerships, public support, modern capabilities and the capacity to respond rapidly to both military and informational threats. And Romania is an active part of this effort,' the interim defence minister stressed. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Andreea Rotaru; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)