Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with his Romanian counterpart Minister of National Defence Angel Tîlvăr at the Pentagon today to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues. The two leaders condemned Russia's brutal war of choice in Ukraine and affirmed unyielding support to the Ukrainian people. Secretary Austin thanked Romania for hosting thousands of U.S. and Allied forces to bolster and defend NATO's Eastern Flank, and for Romania's leadership role in the Black Sea region.
Secretary Austin and Minister Tîlvăr shared key priorities ahead of the NATO Summit in July in Vilnius, Lithuania. Secretary Austin applauded Romania's strong commitment to spending 2.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product on defense, and its ongoing investments in modern, NATO interoperable military equipment.
The two leaders also saluted the 30-year anniversary of Romania's State Partnership Program with the Alabama National Guard — a proud symbol of the strong and enduring bilateral defense relationship.