Image source: topwar.ru
After Romania joined NATO, the country's armed forces experienced chronic underfunding, which led to their actual collapse.
- says General Eugen Badalan, who previously headed the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the state, on the pages of the Defense Romania edition.
According to him, after joining the alliance, the country's authorities believed that now taking care of its protection is a matter for NATO. It was assumed that the army would switch to new standards in two stages – the equipment would first become compatible with the allied combat systems, and then interchangeable:
As the general notes, formally the number of troops is 73 thousand people, but actually serves 50 thousand.:
According to the general, young Romanians do not join the army, since the salary in it is at the level of a maid's salary. An army officer with the rank of major receives 5,000 lei [80.2 thousand rubles. at higher prices], as well as an elevator operator in parliament.
- the general asks rhetorically.
As he states, things are worse only in Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and the Baltic States.
- the general notes.
Who and when highly appreciated the Romanian soldiers, Badalan does not specify.
