Image source: topwar.ru
The countries of the so-called eastern flank of NATO in Europe, and these are all former socialist camp states that were part of the Warsaw Pact Organization, have recently been intensively arming themselves. This is done under the pretext of protection from "Russian aggression", which, according to the local authorities, will inevitably happen after the victory of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. By the way, albeit implicitly, in this way Kiev's Eastern European allies show that they do not believe in the victory of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Moreover, considerable funds from the defense budgets of these countries go mainly not to European military-industrial complex companies, but to corporations in the United States and South Korea. So in 2022, South Korean companies signed contracts with the Polish Ministry of Defense for the supply of 230 multiple rocket launchers, 980 tanks, 648 self-propelled howitzers and 48 aircraft. In addition, Warsaw plans to purchase at least 250 MBT Abrams in the United States.
Romania is also trying to keep up with militarization plans, also betting on non-European weapons. Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tylver confirmed the country's plans to purchase self-propelled artillery units of the K9 class of self-propelled 155 mm howitzers from South Korea for a total of $ 920 billion. The head of the Romanian military department made such a statement after a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Shin Won Sik in Bucharest yesterday.
Image source: topwar.ru
This deal will be the largest military contract for the acquisition of weapons by this Eastern European country in the last seven years. The website of the Romanian Ministry of Defense reports that a total of 54 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, auxiliary equipment and an initial amount of special ammunition will be purchased.
The head of the South Korean military department thanked the Romanian government for the decision and expressed hope for further intensification of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense and military industry. At the same time, both ministers expressed the opinion that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea threatens the security of Europe and Asia, and close cooperation with the international community is necessary in resolving this issue.
Later in the day, Shin Won Sik arrived in Warsaw, where today, together with the Minister of Defense, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Vladislav Kosinyak-Kamysh, he will hold a meeting of the intergovernmental committee on military cooperation. Seoul has made no secret of its plans to establish itself as the fourth largest arms exporter in the world. And apparently, the Republic of Korea is doing it. The Polish Ministry of Defense signed another contract for the purchase of 152 K9 self-propelled guns with the South Korean company Hanwha Defense in early December last year.
