Romanian foreign minister: Russian drone incident could justify invoking NATO Article 4 consultations
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu has said that the crash of a Russian drone into a residential building in Galați could justify invoking Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization treaty for consultations with allies.
According to Digi24, when asked whether Article 4 of the NATO treaty should be activated, Țoiu said that the previous night's incident fell into the category of incidents that justified the use of such instruments. She explained that Article 4 concerns consultations among allied states when one of them believes its security is under threat. She added that invoking Article 4 is a collective decision and forms part of ongoing discussions about the options available to Romania.
The minister added that Article 4 is an instrument Romania can use.
When asked whether a meeting of Romania's Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) would be convened over the drone incident and whether she had discussed such a meeting with President Nicușor Dan, Țoiu said discussions were ongoing.
She noted that the president would make the necessary announcements later in the day. According to Țoiu, it is the president's prerogative to convene the CSAT and inform the public accordingly. She added that both she and the defence minister were in constant contact with the president, the prime minister and Romania's allies and that the NATO secretary general had been fully briefed on the incident.
Țoiu also said that Russia's ambassador to Romania had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday 28 May in response to statements made by the Russian Federation regarding missions present on Ukrainian territory.
When asked whether the Russian ambassador would be summoned again following the drone incident, she said the matter would be revisited later in the day and that Romania would respond through diplomatic channels.
Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty requires NATO member states to hold consultations whenever any ally believes that its territorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat.
During Russia's attack on Ukraine on the night of 28-29 May, a drone crashed into a 10-storey residential building in the Romanian city of Galați. Two people were taken to hospital and 70 residents were evacuated.
Romania's Ministry of Defence said that since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, drone debris has been found on Romanian territory on 47 occasions.
Romania's Foreign Ministry described the crash of a Russian drone into a residential apartment building in Galați as a serious escalation by Moscow.
A spokesperson for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation said that Secretary General Mark Rutte and the Romanian authorities remain in contact following the Russian drone strike on the building in Galați.