The bilateral security agreement between Romania and Ukraine represents an indirect message addressed to Russia, in which we show that aid to the neighboring country will not stop. This agreement, like Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, does not oblige us to send soldiers to war, says expert Iulia Joja.
Historic agreement between Ukraine and Romania signed in Washington. PHOTO: x/Klaus Iohannis
Romania and Ukraine, through presidents Klaus Iohannis and Volodymyr Zelenski, signed a bilateral security agreement in Washington on Thursday.
Romania thus joins the 22 signatory states of the G7 Declaration plus the European Union, which initials this type of agreement. “The participants decided to continue their cooperation to help Ukraine defend against Russian aggression until Ukraine prevails” – it is stated in the preamble of the Declaration.
Iulia Joja, an expert in European security in Washington, explains why such a treaty was signed:
“These bilateral treaties concluded by Romania and 22 other states with Ukraine are the pillars of a bridge to NATO membership. Because there was not enough understanding or political will to promise Ukraine a date to join, because there are certain states, which oppose Ukraine’s integration into NATO under the current conditions of war, these bilateral treaties called security guarantees are offered” – says the expert.
Joja asks rhetorically: “What security guarantees can Romania offer to Ukraine, in addition to what it already offers? I don’t understand this. Therefore, we will probably see that there is not much concrete content in these bilateral agreements”.
An indirect message for Russia
Practically, they must be understood both by Romania and the others, says the expert, as a medium-term commitment to continue aid to Ukraine, especially security aid.
“It is an indirect message from the Alliance and from Romania, in this case, addressed to Russia, in which we convey that the aid to Ukraine will not stop, because we know that Russia’s bet is that we will get tired of helping Ukraine and give up or we will reduce aid along the way”, explains the specialist in European security.
She states that Russia has invested a lot of energy, propaganda, diplomacy, nuclear threats to reduce political and military support for Ukraine. “In this context, the commitment from Romania is very welcome”concluded Joja.
The expert claims that she does not expect the complete and uncensored version of this agreement to be made public, because Romania still hesitates, with few exceptions, to make military aid to Ukraine public. “One of Romania’s arguments for hiding the aid is not to give too much information to Russia. So, from this point of view too, I expect to see a censored version”, she says.
“Romania will send soldiers to Ukraine”
Joja explains that the agreement practically does not obligate us to send troops or aid to Ukraine.
“We must not understand these agreements or bilateral treaties as a commitment by countries like Romania to intervene militarily in support of Ukraine. They don’t force us to send troops to Ukraine“, explains the specialist.
She specified that Romania or France or the other states can send troops regardless of the NATO Treaty or these bilateral agreements. “It is an agreement that is made ad hoc, there is no need for such security guarantees. They are completely and utterly separate things, this bilateral agreement, NATO, Article 5”
Joja claims that even the famous article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which stipulates that if a member is attacked the other countries will help it, does not entail the obligation to send soldiers.
“Even if Ukraine were now admitted to NATO, Article 5 would not oblige us to send troops to help, it recommends but does not oblige us.”
Defense cooperation
The agreement has effects in several areas, that of defense being essential. The only concrete information here refers to the Patriot system that Romania is donating.
Otherwise, we are talking about commitments made for the future, without specifying anything concrete.
We reproduce below what this chapter provides:
A. Ensuring a sustainable force capable of defending Ukraine now and in the future
1. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Romania has provided Ukraine with multidimensional and comprehensive support, including: humanitarian assistance; managing the flow of refugees and their sustainable and dignified stay in Romania; military and security assistance; support in the field of energy security; providing reliable transit and transport corridors for Ukrainian exports, especially grain and other agricultural products; ensuring accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine by the forces of the Russian Federation. Romania will continue its multidimensional support for Ukraine for the duration of this agreement, with the same dynamics from 2022-2024.
2. Romania will continue to support Ukraine as long as it is necessary for Ukraine to prevail, maintaining the current dynamic level of assistance, including military assistance packages agreed between the two defense ministries. In 2024, the additional support offered by Romania will be determined by the needs expressed by Ukraine, in coordination with our partners and in accordance with the existing procedures between the defense ministries of the two countries. Romania will donate a PATRIOT system to Ukraine, in accordance with the decision of the Supreme National Defense Council of June 20, 2024.
3. As part of defense cooperation, Romania will facilitate the transit of all necessary equipment on its territory to Ukraine as quickly as possible.
4. Participants will continue dialogue bilaterally and with other partners to share views and lessons learned on missile and UAV threats.
5. To ensure the achievement of the above-mentioned objectives, the participants shall organize an annual high-level strategic dialogue on defense and security policy, in which all aspects of security and defense of interest to any of the participants shall be discussed, including in in order to strengthen regional security.
6. Participants will explore ways to provide assistance to the Ukrainian military medical support system in treating and rehabilitating Ukrainian servicemen.
7. Participants will collaborate, as well as with Ukraine’s other international partners, to support Ukraine’s security and defense forces and to enhance Ukraine’s resilience and ability to deter and defend against future attacks and prevent escalation of aggression ongoing by providing ongoing security assistance.
8. Romania is also committed to further support Ukraine, through the instruments developed by the European Union and NATO, such as the European Instrument for Peace and NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package, with the aim of strengthening the interoperability of security and defense forces of Ukraine with NATO and to rebuild Ukraine’s defense sector.
The answer to the questiona “Romania will send soldiers to Ukraine” is: certainly this bilateral agreement does not oblige us to do so.
