Military expert: Romania risks becoming a “co-belligerent country” if the US attacks Iran from our territory / Today's CSAT meeting stake
Commander (r) Sandu Valentin Mateiu warns of unprecedented security risks, in the context in which a decision by the CSAT regarding the addition of American troops to the Mihail Kogălniceanu base is expected today.
The military expert explained on Tuesday, on Digi24, that the deployment of fighter jets for missions in the Middle East could turn Romania into a “co-belligerent country” and a target for Iran's missiles.
The military expert emphasized that the agenda of the CSAT meeting concerns the request of the American ally based on the 2005 and 2015 agreements on the deployment of some military capabilities. Mateiu specified that, although the American B1 bombers can fly with refueling directly from the USA or Great Britain, a possible deployment in Romania would change the strategic status of the country.
“When they act directly from our territory, we are co-belligerents and problems of international law arise,” the commander said.
He also explained that the risks depend on the type of missions: “It can be a simple deployment of support aircraft, or it can be a deployment of aircraft carrying out combat missions departing from our territory.”
Asked by Cosmin Prelipceanu on the “Evening Journal” if Romania could become a target of Iran, reserve commander Sandu Valentin Mateiu answered in the affirmative:
“Yes, Tehran has already said that it will strike any state that is caught in the conflict, or that the attack against Iran starts from its bases, or that the planes that bomb Iran pass through its airspace. Until we become a threat to Iran, I think there is more.
Iran can strike. The reason why the Deveselu shield was installed was to intercept Iranian missiles, and they have, at the limit, missiles that can hit the south-east of Europe”, concluded Mateiu.
Despite these risks, the expert cited the importance of the relationship with Washington: “We have a strategic partner, we have always highlighted our friendship with the United States, the importance of the Kogălniceanu base, and yes, a friend is known when needed.”
The Pentagon requested the sending of fighter jets and additional soldiers to the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, in the context of the war with Iran, according to Digi24. The US Department of Defense's request is being discussed at Wednesday's CSAT meeting.
