Bucharest, Romania. Romanian President Nicusor Dan has convened Romania’s top defence council to discuss whether to allow U.S. aircraft access to its military bases for support linked to U.S. operations involving Tehran, political sources said. The council will meet on Wednesday for the first time this year.
Defence council agenda
The council is set to discuss the security fallout from the conflict in the Middle East, its impact on Romania’s energy market, and “the temporary deployment of military capability on Romanian territory.”
Political sources said the deployment referred to a U.S. request to use the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, without elaborating.
Regional and EU context
Some EU countries, including France, Greece and Italy, have sent warships to Cyprus after Iranian-made drones struck a British base on the island, while others allow use of their military bases.
Most EU top officials have condemned Iranian strikes in the region and urged an end and a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
U.S. and NATO presence in Romania
The U.S. withdrew about 1,000 troops from Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu air base last year as it focused on its own borders and the Indo-Pacific region, while another 1,000 U.S. troops remain in Romania.
Romania’s permanent allied presence stands at around 3,500 NATO troops, including U.S. soldiers.
Security situation near Ukraine and the Black Sea
Romania shares a 650 km (400 mile) land border with Ukraine, over which Russian drones have flown towards Kyiv, while mines in the Black Sea from the conflict affect key trade and energy routes.
What should Romania consider most when deciding whether to grant U.S. aircraft access to its military bases?
