Romania has not received, up to this point, any official information from the United States related to a possible withdrawal of American troops from the territory of our country, the Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday, which states that the partnership with the U.S. is based on transparency, consultation and good faith, and any major decision regarding the allied military posture is taken in the spirit of cooperation and attachment to the values promoted by the Washington Treaty.

”As to the information recently published in the public space about a possible withdrawal of approximately 10,000 American troops from Romania and Poland, the Ministry of National Defense specifies that, up to this point, Romania has not received any official information in this regard from the United States. As such, we cannot formulate an official position in response to information based on press sources,” reads a release from the Ministry of National Defense sent to AGERPRES.

According to the cited source, the relations between Romania and the United States of America are based on a „solid” strategic partnership, based on common values, mutual trust and a consolidated collaboration for over two decades in key areas, especially regarding regional and Euro-Atlantic security.

All bilateral agreements signed in this framework – including those regulating the U.S. military presence in Romania – are in force, are respected and permanently adapted to security developments in the regional environment, the Ministry of Defense stated.

„Our partnership with the U.S. is based on transparency, consultation and good faith, and any major decision regarding the allied military posture is taken in the spirit of cooperation and attachment to the values promoted by the Washington Treaty,” the quoted source indicated.

Strategic facilities hosted in military bases on Romanian territory, such as the American forces stationed in a rotational system at the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu or the Aegis Ashore anti-missile system installed at Base 99 Deveselu, which is integrated into the NATO anti-missile system, represent clear evidence of the joint Romanian-American commitment to allied collective security, the Ministry of Defense emphasized.

„The modernization and expansion of the 57th Air Base at Mihail Kogalniceanu, with an investment by the Romanian Government of over 2.5 billion euros, will transform this location into a strategic hub for NATO in the region, capable of hosting up to 10,000 Romanian and allied military personnel. Romania’s investment is structured over 20 years, with implementation in four stages,” the quoted source mentioned.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, joint military exercises, such as „Sea Shield 25”, currently underway in the Black Sea and on Romanian territory, an exercise in which the U.S. is also participating with aerial surveillance equipment and staff officers, represent an example of our country’s extensive cooperation with its allies.

This year, several exercises are planned on Romanian territory in which American troops will participate, the most important being SABER GUARDIAN 25 – planned by USEUCOM, the Ministry of Defense detailed.

The presence of American forces on Romanian territory, supported by significant investments in defense infrastructure, strengthens regional security and deters external threats, the press release also reads.

At this moment, in Romania, a total of over 1,700 U.S. military staff are deployed, mainly in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Deveselu and Campia Turzii.

On March 26, at the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, troops from the 2nd Brigade of the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne Division „Task Force Strike”, replaced those from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division „Task Force Patriot”. The 57th Air Base Mihail Kogalniceanu currently hosts over 1,400 U.S. military personnel.

At the same time, regional defense plans are being implemented according to NATO planning, and Romania, as a host nation, continues to implement its obligations.

”Romania was one of the first allied countries to raise its defense budget above 2% of GDP, consistently exceeding the commitment to invest a minimum of 20% of the allocations for the provision of modern technology, which demonstrates our firm position to assume increasingly important security responsibilities. The Ministry of National Defense will continue to support the importance of the transatlantic relationship and the strategic partnership with the United States and will remain dedicated to strengthening cooperation in the field of defense and security, in which the two sides have recorded successes that have directly contributed to strengthening collective defense and promoting democratic values in the region,” the cited press release points out.

AGERPRES