The UK will further increase its military presence and support for Romania as an allied state, the new British Ambassador to Bucharest, Giles Portman, said at his first press conference in Bucharest on Tuesday, adding that the Royal Air Force’s Typhoons will return to Romania this year for an air policing mission, according to Euractiv.
For his first press conference on the job, the new ambassador cited his priorities: defence and security, trade, and the fight against organised crime.
“Firstly, defence and security, as NATO allies. We will continue to increase UK support for Romania on the ground”, Portman said.
The diplomat said that the UK would provide “maximum possible support to Romania, particularly in bolstering security defences in the Black Sea region” – which includes the deployment of troops, training, and joint exercises.
“We have numerous plans aimed at expanding the scale of these training programmes in the current year”, Portman added.
Stressing the importance of Black Sea security to London, the British diplomat pointed out that the UK had provided two Sandown-class minehunters to the Romanian navy.
“Romania, together with Turkey and Bulgaria, plays a crucial role in demining the Black Sea region. This collaborative effort aims to facilitate the safe transit of grain ships, ensuring that essential food reaches people worldwide”, the diplomat said, referring to the recent agreement among the three countries regarding demining in the Black Sea.