Canada's Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, who is on an official visit to Romania, said that negotiations on a general information-security agreement have been completed and that the document is expected to be signed soon. Speaking at a joint press conference with Romanian acting Foreign Minister Oana Toiu, at the Foreign Ministry's seat, Anad noted that the agreement would deepen cooperation in industry and defence and enable the exchange of confidential information, facilitating joint work between SMEs and defence companies.

The Canadian top diplomat indicated that bilateral discussions focused on strengthening the partnership across several strategic sectors, including energy, and pointed to the nearly 50-year nuclear partnership under the cooperation agreement on nuclear energy as a strong example of what Romania and Canada can achieve together, citing the CANDU reactors at Cernavoda as a model of long-standing collaboration. She said the talks also addressed ways to build further on this five-decade friendship in the nuclear sector.

The Canadian minister added that she and her Romanian counterpart Oana Toiu discussed the importance of unity and solidarity within NATO in the context of Russia's aggression, underscoring Canada's consistent approach to defending the Eastern Flank, and mentioning both the Canada-led NATO multinational brigade in Latvia and support for mine-clearing efforts in the Black Sea.

Anand also condemned Russian drone incursions into Romania, stressing that Canada, as a founding NATO member, takes its commitments seriously and stands in solidarity with Romania 'at every step'.

She welcomed Romania's security commitments and said Canada aims to increase trade exchanges, particularly in the defence sector. With the NATO summit in Ankara opening tomorrow, Anita Anand said Canada would focus on three priorities: enhanced transatlantic security; sustained long- and short-term support for Ukraine against further Russian aggression; and NATO's defence capabilities. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Irinela Visan; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)