Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper spoke by phone with Romania Minister of National Defense Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă May 12 to convey solidarity in combating COVID-19 and discuss various bilateral and NATO defense issues.
Both leaders expressed gratitude for mutual offers of assistance to battle COVID-19, including U.S. support in transporting medical supplies from Seoul to Bucharest using the NATO-supported Strategic Airlift Capability. Minister Ciucă noted that Romania has offered to send 15 military medical and other experts to assist the U.S. domestic COVID-19 response; Romania is coordinating with its State Partner, the Alabama National Guard, to host the medical team and exchange best practices to combat the virus. Secretary Esper and Minister Ciucă both expressed concerns that Russia and China are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to spread disinformation.
Acknowledging that the U.S.-Romanian defense relationship is built on mutual trust, respect, and the political will of both countries to advance common defense objectives, both leaders agreed to codify existing efforts and advance new initiatives with a 10-year bilateral defense roadmap.