NATO general accuses: 'Romanians came to exercises without drones and anti-drone systems, organized in the same outdated structure'

A retired NATO general has voiced strong criticism against the Romanian Army's top leadership, citing a culture of opacity and difficult communication that hinders the nation's defense modernization. General (ret.) Dorin Toma, former commander of NATO's Multinational Division Southeast Command, stated that despite submitting repeated reports, little has changed at the highest levels of the Romanian military.

Toma argues that national defense requires rapid technological adaptation in the face of new realities, a lesson underscored by the conflict in Ukraine. As NATO commander, he was tasked with implementing these lessons on the Eastern Flank. However, he observed a "dangerous gap" in interoperability and weak communication with authorities in Bucharest. His reports and proposals, he claims, were often left unanswered, reflecting a lack of interest and a rigid stance within the Romanian Army's leadership compared to their Western counterparts.

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I felt that what we were telling them was not being taken into account.

"I felt that what we were telling them was not being taken into account," Toma stated in an interview with Adevărul. He described the communication challenges, particularly with Romanian institutions, despite his own background in the Romanian Army. His mission included monitoring the conflict in Ukraine and advising national military institutions on adapting their structures, equipment, and training based on battlefield observations.

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I believe Article 3 of NATO is very important, and I supported this when I was active.

General Toma stressed the critical importance of Article 3 of the NATO treaty. This article mandates that member nations develop their own national defense capabilities that are integrated into NATO plans, not only for their own defense but also for the collective security of the alliance's Eastern Flank. He highlighted that this involves not just personnel and units, but also crucial capabilities and the transition to new technologies and systems.

During his tenure, Toma was also responsible for maintaining communication with allied forces from France, Belgium, Italy, and other nations stationed in Romania and Bulgaria. He found the communication with Romanian military authorities to be the least effective, despite his efforts to convey vital information and recommendations derived from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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The problem we encountered with the Romanian side was always the same. We felt that what we were telling them multiple times, what we were complaining about, and all our proposals were not being taken into account.