Pentagon Press Secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Romania’s recently appointed Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, to reflect upon the robust bilateral defense relationship between the two countries. Secretary Austin thanked Romania for hosting the second largest contingent of U.S. forces on NATO's Eastern Flank and re-affirmed the United States' Article 5 commitment to the Alliance.
Secretary Austin and Minister Tîlvăr expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people as Russian missile barrages and unmanned aerial system attacks have killed and injured innocent civilians and left many without heat, water, and electricity as winter arrives. The leaders also discussed ongoing security and humanitarian assistance efforts to support Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression.