Former president Traian Băsescu warns, on the day of the CSAT meeting, that Romania must act quickly, but charge the Americans access for operations in the Middle East.
“Trump is looking for allies. Caught alone in the oil trap of the war with Iran, Donald Trump found that he might need Romania after he demonstratively withdrew in 2025, to the joy of his friend Vladimir Putin, most of the military from Kogălniceanu”, wrote Traian Băsescu, on Wednesday morning, on his Facebook page.
Băsescu also recalls the episode from the Security Conference in February 2025, when “in Munich, through the Vance trumpet”, Trump “simply humiliated Romania”.
Then, American Vice President JD Vance harshly attacked the institutions in Bucharest, criticizing the annulment of the presidential elections in Romania and stating that Romanian democracy is “fragile”.
“Today it seems that the USA would need the base from Kogălniceanu”, says Băsescu in his message, emphasizing that Romania already has the necessary legal instruments to respond to the request.
The former president cites the “Access Agreement” signed in 2005 and entered into force in 2006, but insists that the relationship with Washington must now be approached with pragmatism.
“Based on this agreement, the US Army will get access to Kogălniceanu. And that's not because Trump needs it, but because our ally, America, needs it,” he said.
Traian Băsescu asks the current president, Nicușor Dan, for a firm reaction in relation to the requests from the White House.
“Considering the dynamics of the events in the Middle East, President Dan, Romania, must act quickly, without procrastination, postponements and hesitations. The businessman Trump, however, will have to learn that access to Kogălniceanu for operations in the Middle East costs money”, concluded the former president.
The Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), convened by President Nicușor Dan, met on Wednesday to analyze the requests to deploy new military capabilities on Romanian territory, against the backdrop of the Middle East war between the US-Israel and Iran.
