Details about the deployment of US forces in Romania: What equipment are the Americans bringing and in which air bases will they be deployed
The United States will send about 400-500 soldiers to Romania, along with observation equipment, drones and aerial refueling planes. But the US request approved by CSAT on Wednesday concerned two air bases in Romania, not just Mihail Kogălniceanu as was initially circulated, official sources explained to HotNews.
The Supreme National Defense Council today approved the request of the United States to send additional troops, refueling planes and monitoring equipment to Romania. The next step is for Parliament to give its consent.
The announcement was made by Nicușor Dan, who did not elaborate, however, saying only that it is about defensive equipment.
Official sources explained to HotNews what the equipment is and where it will be deployed by the US.
“The supply planes will come the fastest,” official sources close to the request discussed in CSAT explained to HotNews. All the equipment will be brought to Romania with the related military – in total about 400-500 soldiers.
The request addressed to Romania by the United States for the deployment of military resources in our country is for a temporary period of 90 days. If it has to be extended, a new CSAT convening will be needed.
US troops and equipment, deployed in two air bases in Romania
A special fact is that the US request concerned two air bases in the country: Mihail Kogălniceanu from Constanța county and Câmpia Turzii, Cluj county.
“It's something to do with logistical issues, like how many planes can take off at the same time,” the same sources explained.
The observation and information gathering systems, specifically drones, but also the refueling planes that do not take place at the Kogălniceanu base for logistical reasons, will go to the Turzii Air Base. And the US currently has a detachment of MQ-9 Reaper drones at the Turzii base.
Regarding how Romania is preparing for a potential threat from Iran, with the deployment of additional US troops, official sources told HotNews that “the threat remains the same as 2 days ago”.
Nicușor Dan: Refueling planes, monitoring equipment in correlation with the Deveselu shield
After today's CSAT meeting, President Nicușor Dan “assured” the Romanians that “they have no reason to worry”: “Their country is a safe one”.
“The third point of today's discussion in CSAT was the temporary deployment of some American military equipment and forces in Romania. It is about refueling planes, as has already been discussed in the public space, some monitoring equipment and some satellite communications equipment, in correlation with the Deveselu shield. These equipment are defensive and are not equipped with actual weapons. They are non-kinetic equipment.
To the extent that the Parliament approves in the meeting, they will be deployed based on the Romania-USA partnership. (…) They are equipment that increase Romania's security. I assure the Romanians that they have no reason to worry. Their country is a safe one”, declared Nicușor Dan.
US military presence in Romania, at this moment: Most of the military, stationed at Kogălniceanu and Câmpia Turzii
Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, in Constanța County, is one of the main military bases of the Romanian Army and one of the largest and most active NATO military facilities on the Eastern flank of the Alliance.
The Kogălniceanu base is also the place where there is the largest American military presence on the territory of our country. According to HotNews.ro sources, at the moment, approximately 1,100-1,200 American soldiers are deployed in Romania, and most of them, approximately 700, are at the Kogălniceanu base.
And at Câmpia Turzii the US maintains a military presence, with about 100-150 soldiers, a detachment with MQ-9 Reaper drones. Here the Americans also occasionally send contingents of fighter planes.
