Mircea Geoană says how the withdrawal of American troops could be compensated. “The reduction of the military presence is not a surprise”
Mircea Geoană Photo: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Profimedia
Mircea Geoană, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, stated that the withdrawal of part of the American troops present at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base does not represent a cooling of the bilateral relationship between Romania and the USA, as there are solutions to compensate for the reduction of the US military presence.
Mircea Geoană claims that the announcement of the withdrawal of some American troops is not a surprise, but the result of a financial, strategic and political analysis, with compensation expected through a greater presence of Romania's European allies.
Maintaining troops in Romania, more expensive than in Poland
“The rotational model practiced in Romania is more expensive than the one based on the permanent presence of American troops in Poland or the Baltic countries. Strategically, the Black Sea area is part of NATO's Southern regional plans, including the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The Northern Area of Europe (the North Sea, the North Atlantic and the Arctic area) was prioritized in the Global Posture Review, in the context of the unlimited strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and China. The US expects that the allies from our area to compensate for the reduction of the American military presence”, wrote Mircea Geoană on Facebook.
The first official US position regarding its military in Romania: “This does not represent an American withdrawal from Europe. On the contrary”
The former Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance believes that there are means by which Romania can maintain its current level of security, even after the announced withdrawal
It is about “the prepositioning of American military equipment, ammunition and technique in Romania, increased intelligence sharing, a new anti-missile defense architecture, anti-drone systems, including underwater ones, and increased access to American space assets.”
Geoana mentions that the American forces at Deveselu and Câmpia Turzii remain intact, and Romania can ask for the addition of forces from the NATO Battle Group at Cincu.
“After the brigade-level increase exercise in November, together with France and the participating allied countries, Romania will have to act for an extended and permanent brigade-level presence, according to the model practiced in the Baltic countries and Poland”, believes Mircea Geoană.
Interpreting the withdrawal announcement as a cooling of relations with Washington would be a “hasty” reading, the former foreign minister continues.
“After the Visa Waiver moment, this decision can be read hastily and in the key to a cooling of the bilateral relationship or a decrease in the strategic relevance of Romania in the global strategy of the USA. Regardless of what the following years will bring us from a political and electoral point of view, the political consensus on the crucial importance of the relationship with our main ally for national security must be preserved. And a Generation 2.0 of the Strategic Partnership with the USA must be built without delay”, concluded Mircea Geoana.
MApN's reaction to the Washington announcement
INTERVIEW “Romania is in the most vulnerable area”. What follows after the US decision to partially withdraw troops from our country
MApN announced on Wednesday morning that Romania and NATO allied countries were informed of the decision of the United States regarding the “resizing” of American troops in Europe. According to MApN, “approximately one thousand American soldiers will remain deployed” in Romania.
The announcement came after the Ukrainian publication Kyiv Post wrote, citing American and European sources, that the Donald Trump Administration is about to withdraw “thousands of American soldiers” from Romania.
According to MApN, among the elements of the brigade that are to stop rotating in Europe, there are also forces destined for Romania, from the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base. Previously, HotNews.ro sources had said that, if there are reductions in American forces in Romania, these troops from Mihail Kogălniceanu will be targeted.
“The decision was expected, Romania being in permanent contact with the American strategic partner. The resizing of the US forces is an effect of the new priorities of the presidential administration, announced as early as February. The decision also took into account the fact that NATO has strengthened its presence and activity on the Eastern Flank, which allows the United States to adjust its military posture in the region”, MApN said.
