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SZCZECIN, Poland - On 5 November, Poland's and Romania's Chiefs of Defence, GEN Rajmund T. Andrzejczak and LTG Daniel Petrescu, visited Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE). They were hosted by the Corps Commander, LTG Sławomir Wojciechowski, for wide-ranging discussions on NATO's deterrence and collective defence across the Baltic Sea region, and mutual cooperation within the Corps and beyond.

The Generals talked about the MNC NE current undertakings as well as the Polish and Romanian involvement in the Corps mission. LTG Wojciechowski highlighted Poland's and Romania's vital role in the Baltic Sea region contributing to NATO's shared security. Both the Polish and Romanian Armed Forces have their representatives in the MNC NE Headquarters - Poland being its host and framework nation, and Romania as one of its 25 member states. Additionally, the Corps' Multinational Division North East (MND-NE) with the headquarters in Elbląg, Poland is built upon strong Polish participation.

During the meeting, LTG Wojciechowski and the distinguished guests spoke about Poland's and Romania's involvement in NATO's enhanced Forward Presence in northeastern Poland where both forces operate jointly. At the same time, the Corps Commander amplified the increasing importance of regional approaches in NATO's endeavors:

What happens across the Baltic and Black Sea regions should not be seen in isolation of one another.

LTG Wojciechowski welcomed the establishment of Allied structures in Romania, and emphasized that the Bucharest-based Multinational Division Southeast as well as the Sibiu-headquartered Multinational Corps Southeast — planned to be fully operational in 2024 — are the MNC NE highly valued partners.

Upon completion of the visit, the Corps Commander and the Chiefs of Defence affirmed their ironclad commitment to the continued development of regional cooperation. "NATO took many initiatives in order to reinforce security across the eastern flank. As one of the MNC NE and MND-NE framework nations, Poland contributes to the overall architecture of NATO's command and control systems in the region," GEN Andrzejczak summarized.

Welcome ceremony Poland's and Romania's Chief of Defence at the MNC NE Headquarters / Photo by CPL Lisa Engler

GEN Andrzejczak, Poland's Chief of Defence, during welcome ceremony at the MNC NE Headquarters / Photo by CPL Lisa Engler

LTG Petrescu, Romania's Chief of Defence, signs a guest at the MNC NE Headquarters / Photo by CPL Lisa Engler