Romania sends its soldiers to fight Houthi rebels

Romania will deploy troops against the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea operation. The Romanian Army also will participate in the combat of mines in the Black Sea.

The joint permanent bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate have approved the referral of three letters to the defence committees by President Klaus Iohannis, according to a Romanian media outlet.

The three letters will be presented at the joint session of the Parliament on Monday - April 22, at 2:00 p.m.

In the first letter, the head of state indicates that the security situation in the Yemeni coasts and the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait has deteriorated constantly, with negative repercussions on the European and global economies.

In this context, at the Prime Minister's proposal and after consulting the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), the President has approved the participation of the Romanian Army "in the European Union Maritime Security Operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, the international waters of the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf, starting in 2024, with up to 5 soldiers."

Moreover, Iohannis requests Parliament's approval for the participation of the Romanian Army "in the maritime operation PROSPERITY GUARDIAN (OPG), under the command of the USA, in the area of responsibility in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the territory of Bahrain, starting in 2024, with up to 3 soldiers."

The financial resources necessary are provided from the budget allocated to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in 2024.

In the second letter, Iohannis requests Parliament's approval for the participation of the Romanian Army in the operations under the aegis of the Mine Countermeasures Black Sea - MCM BLACK SEA Operational Group.

Romania's participation in these operations will involve up to six soldiers and a military vessel with MCM capabilities and an EOD team on board, with a crew of up to 85 soldiers.

In this case as well, the necessary funds will be provided from the MoD budget.

Finally, in the third letter, Iohannis announces that he has approved the transit of national territory for equipment and material goods donated by Estonia to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian soldiers for the use and maintenance of the donated materials.

The financial resources required for the training of the Ukrainian detachment (accommodation, feeding, and military transport to/from the training location, fuel supply for the vessels), as well as any unforeseen costs necessary to complete the activities until the transfer of goods to the Ukrainian partner, are also provided from the budget allocated to the MoD.