Romanian defence minister sceptical about providing Ukraine with Patriot system

Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tîlvăr is sceptical about sending a Patriot missile system to Ukraine a Patriot missile system, claims Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.

Commenting on President Klaus Iohannis’ recent visit to the US, Ciolacu revealed that Tîlvăr has serious reservations about supplying Ukraine with a Patriot missile system. 

“There has been a discussion about who can send Patriot systems to Ukraine over the last few weeks,” Iohannis told reporters in Washington after meeting US President Joe Biden in Washington. 

“President Biden mentioned it… in our meeting, and I said I was open to discussion. I must discuss it in the Supreme Defence Council to see what we can offer and what we can get in return because it is unacceptable to leave Romania without air defences,” Iohannis said. 

Ciolacu said he has not yet discussed the issue with Iohannis, noting that the Supreme National Defence Council, which Iohannis chairs, makes such decisions. 

From a personal point of view, Ciolacu said that it was “somehow even better” for Romania if the system was located in Ukraine. 

The defence system is in Romania “to safeguard our eastern flank,” and if the system were stationed “a bit farther away, in Ukraine, and would still provide protection, it would be advantageous for us in some respects,” Ciolacu said. 

PNL leader Nicolae Ciucă insisted on Monday that the issue should not be politicised and that a decision would be made after “an exhaustive analysis encompassing all pertinent factors”. 

The Patriot system is the Romanian army’s biggest procurement, with Bucharest having spent nearly $4 billion on seven of the systems. However, only four of the systems ordered have been delivered to the country, and only one is currently operational. 

(Catalina Mihai | Euractiv.ro) 

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