Radio România Internațional

Category: Romania. The Eastern Flank

  • Romanian and US Marines had a joint training session in the Danube Delta

    Romanian and US Marines had a joint training session in the Danube Delta

    It is a misty, late September morning in Mahmudia, a locality on the Sfântu Gheorghe arm, one of the Danube Delta’s three arms in Romania. Each year, here, a stage is being carried, of the Marines 307th Regiment’s Heracleea annual exercise. The Marines get ready to board the assault boats, in a bid to carry an amphibious raid on the Caraorman islet.

    In 2024, the exercise has covered almost all of the Danube Delta surface, that including the Razelm-Sinoe lagoon area or the Babadag training range. It has been a dynamic week, an eventful one, with all the set targets being met at the end of the week. The novelty in 2024 is the presence of two teams of observers and planners, one from Italy, as an absolute first, from the San Marco Marine Brigade, and one of the US Marine Corps.

    The deputy of the Haricleea 307 Marines Regiment commander, colonel Claudiu Visan, stated the US team was made of 15 military, retired as well as active, they were assessors here, on the ground, yet they participated in the process of planning of the exercise. The partnership was initiated many years ago, we can quite aptly speak about a true mentoring undertaking because, according to Colonel Visan, the US Marines are arguably the best prepared, professionally, with much experience in various theatres of operation.

    Before boarding the assault boats, lieutenant-colonel Daniel Dieckhaus of the Alpha Advisors company in Washington, DC, specified the reason of their presence in the Danube Delta.
    “Our mission here is to work together with our Romanian partners, to learn from one another and operate together, to get to know our capabilities, in a bid to become an even more deadly force. We have, in Romania, marines who are very motivated, on both sides. The US ones are very happy to be here and I believe so do the Romanian marines, they learn from one another. The assault boats training is a good thing, our boys get acquainted with how to operate them in this specific environment. The Romanian marines know this area very well, I don’t think there is anyone else capable of knowing the Delta better than they do, they know how to run the assault boats and I am happy we can work together.”

    Lieutenant-colonel Daniel Dieckhaus is a native of the state of Pennsylvania, a place in the USA where the geography is different from that of the Danube Delta. He has been to Romania before and is very happy every time he returns to this country. About assessment and advising, he says they are not carried in the classic sense of the concepts:

    “ We are assessors and advisors, but for both sides we work together, this is not an assessment of the Romanian Marines as against the US Marines, we also learn from our partners, we offer pieces of advice, if the case, if there is more than one way of doing things correctly, in terms of specific tactics and techniques, we share that kind of knowledge. By all means, it is a two-way process where everybody stands to gain. “

    Only a couple of dozens of kilometres further north, on the Chilia Arm, the Russian drones continue to violate Romania’s air space. Sometimes, the drones crash on the national territory. We asked lieutenant-colonel Daniel Dieckhaus whether this situation had any impact at all, on the mission he has in Romania.

    “I believe everybody is aware there is an ongoing war at the borders, it is the backdrop against which we take action, considering the emergency and the importance of our mission. We want to make sure that we and the Marines here are prepared. I am sure al those who will be on the water today have that in mind. Anyone can learn something from the war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and here I also include the US Marine Corps. One of the reasons why we are doing the exercise today is to practice new tactical manoeuvres and techniques when we’re on water. By all means, the amphibious raid is useful is this lagoon environment of the Danube Delta.”

  • Romania. Eastern Flank: Rotation of forces of the French detachment within the NATO Battle Group hosted by Romania

    The Defense ministers from the countries participating in the B9 Initiative met last week in Bucharest, to discuss allied measures to strengthen the deterrence and defense posture. Regarding the security situation in the Black Sea region and NATO’s Eastern Flank, the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, emphasized that the Russian Federation remained the most important threat to the security of the Allies. The B9 format (Bucharest 9) was launched in 2015 by Romania and Poland as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between NATO’s eastern allies. The initiative also includes Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary. Meetings in this format are held periodically, at the level of heads of state, foreign and defense ministers.

     

    Rotation of the forces of the French detachment within the NATO Battle Group hosted by Romania: Colonel Jean Michelin took over the command of the group from his compatriot, Colonel Louis-Marie Levacher, during a ceremony held on September 17 in the Cincu National Training Center (central Romania). The French troops in Romania thus reach the 9th rotation of the Aigle mission, carried out to strengthen the allied deterrence posture in the region. The Allied Battle Group located on the territory of Romania also includes forces from the armies of Belgium and Luxembourg, with a total of one thousand soldiers.

     

    The MAMBA system has recently participated in an air defense exercise planned by NATO’s Allied Air Command. Several aircraft participated, including Romanian, Greek and Turkish F-16s and a Spanish F-18, with the aim of testing their interoperability in space. The medium-range MAMBA surface-to-air defense system deployed in Romania was able to demonstrate its expertise in integrated air defense, working to defend its area of ​​responsibility with air defense fighters from several countries.

     

    The Romanian soldiers deployed within the Tactical Reserve Battalion of the KFOR mission under the auspices of NATO are being trained, together with their Hungarian and Swiss colleagues, in scenario-based exercises for crowd and riots control and for the protection of the force of the Swiss units, as part of their joint training at Camp Novo-Selo, in Kosovo. These periodic activities are essential to guarantee the highest operational standards of KFOR and the readiness to face all possible security scenarios. KFOR continues to implement its mandate based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999 to contribute to a secure environment for all individuals and communities living in Kosovo and to ensuring the freedom of movement at all times.

     

    We also inform you that the Romanian Naval Forces are participating with ‘Mine sweeper 30’ in the second activation of the Task Force to combat sea mines in the Black Sea. The naval group also includes a minesweeper and a logistic support ship, both from Turkey, and a minesweeper of the Bulgarian Naval Forces. The mission will run until the end of this month, an interval during which the multinational exercise NUSRET 24 will also take place.  (Constantin Herțanu, LS)

  • Romania. The Eastern Flank: Cooperation, intervention and integration

    Romania. The Eastern Flank: Cooperation, intervention and integration

    The structure for the integration of NATO forces in Romania has completed 9 years of existence. Established in 2015 as NATO’s response to changes in the security environment and to threats from the east and south, the unit is a multinational NATO command and control structure. The decision to establish this command and another five on the eastern flank of the Alliance was made at the September 2014 summit in Wales, where the Rapid Reaction Plan was approved, which includes a series of collective defense measures, including the increase in NATO’s reaction forces to about 40,000 soldiers and the creation of a rapid reaction force of about 5,000 soldiers able to intervene in a very short time in the event of a crisis. Throughout this time, the NATO Force Integration Unit in Romania has played a key role in improving NATO’s readiness and response capabilities on the Eastern flank, ensuring the collective defense of our Allies and promoting regional stability.

     

    For 18 days, a detachment belonging to the 151st Infantry Battalion “Războieni” participated, together with the other Romanian structures deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the multinational exercise QUICK RESPONSE 24. Troops from all 23 countries of EUFOR (European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina) were involved, that temporarily received reinforcements from the Austrian, Hungarian and Romanian reserve forces. The continued presence of EUFOR members in local communities gives them a better perspective on the situation on the ground and gives them the opportunity to assist local partners in ensuring a stable and secure environment. “In the first part of the exercise, we carried out training with all the soldiers from the participating nations, and in the second part, the soldiers carried out the whole spectrum of missions specific to the Bosnia and Herzegovina theater of operations. On the Day of Distinguished Visitors, a complex exercise took place in which, based on a fictitious scenario, a series of military actions were carried out”, Lieutenant-Colonel Ioan Levărdă, the commander of the Romanian detachment, said.

     

    For two weeks, the National Training Center for non-commissioned and warrant officers in Pitesti, southern Romania, hosted the third Development Course for drill instructors, in cooperation with soldiers from the Alabama National Guard. This session is part of the training of the associated military instructors who will carry out training activities in the general military training module with the students who are being trained at the National Training Center for non-commissioned and warrant officers in the new academic year. The future associate instructors completed this module under the direct guidance of the American partners and Romanian colleagues, former graduates of this course. The purpose of these actions is to implement this course in the training of non-commissioned and warrant officers in the Romanian Army, being a form of training based on objectives that are based on the recognized international competences of the instructors.

     

    We also inform you that two military students in the second year at the “Mircea cel Bătrân” Naval Academy, from Constanta (southeast), will spend a semester of study at the Theresan Military Academy in Austria, through the Erasmus+ program. Students will be able to improve their knowledge of military leadership and have the opportunity to see how officers from other countries train at one of the oldest military academies in the world, founded in 1752. (Teodora Mazere, LS)

  • Romanian Naval Forces assume command of the NATO Group in the Mediterranean Sea

    Romanian Naval Forces assume command of the NATO Group in the Mediterranean Sea

    An additional three single-command F-16 Fighting Falcon jets of the Royal Dutch Air Forces landed on June 19 at the 86th “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniţă” Air Base  in Fetești (southeast). The aircraft will serve the Training Center established as a result of the collaboration between the Romanian and Dutch Defense Ministries, in partnership with Lockheed Martin and with the support from Denmark, the coordinator of the F-16 International Coalition alongside the Netherlands.

     

     

    After nearly 6 months away from home, the 3rd tour of the Military Contingent of the Republic of North Macedonia handed over command. The transfer of authority took place in Caracal (southern Romania), on June 19, 2024, in the presence of representatives of the South-East Multinational Division, the South-East Multinational Brigade and other training structures.

     

     

    Some 50 multinational representatives from NATO’s command structures participated in the Council meeting charged with planning the training program and military exercises of allied operations, as well as in the Exercise Budget User Group over June 18-20, as part of key training events hosted by the Southeast Multinational Corps Command in Sibiu (center). The purpose of these meetings was to identify resources, synchronize and sequence collective training and exercises.

     

     

    Also with respect to NATO, the Training, Simulation, Evaluation and War Games Center of the Naval Forces hosted, over June 10-14, the 48th edition of the NATO MAREVAL maritime evaluation course. Organized by the Allied Maritime Command in Constanța (southeast), the course was attended by 22 servicemen, including 4 trainers from Spain and Germany, 10 Romanian servicemen and 8 servicemen from Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Greece and Ukraine. Participants developed their knowledge of NATO standards, criteria and assessment procedures used in the maritime field. At the same time, the participating staff familiarized themselves with planning exercises and evaluation activities, in compliance with NATO standards.

     

     

    In other news regarding the navy, Romania is taking command of a NATO naval group for six months. The “Vice-Admiral Constantin Bălescu” 274 mine and net sweeper set sail on June 20 from the Constanța Military Port, headed for the Mediterranean Sea to join the permanent NATO mine-fighting naval group. In a military ceremony scheduled for June 28, in Salamis, Greece, the command of the naval group will be taken over by Romania, for the second time in 4 years. The “Vice-Admiral Constantin Bălescu” 274 mine and net sweeper is commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Bogdan Iosif. It has a crew of 85 Romanian and foreign servicemen, and for the next six months it will lead a permanent NATO naval group, including military watercraft from Italy, Spain and Turkey. By participating in this mission, the Romanian Naval Forces contribute to the fulfillment of our country’s commitment to ensuring regional security and strengthening international cooperation with a view to maintaining stability in the Mediterranean. (Constantin Herțanu & VP)

  • A Fiery Week in target ranges across the country

    A Fiery Week in target ranges across the country

    Two wide-scope multinational exercises, Ramstein Legacy and Scorpions Legacy, respectively, have recently been hosted by the target ranges in south-eastern Romania’s Capu Midia and Cincu, in central Romania.

    1,300 Romanian military jointly with their partners from nine other allied countries have been deployed as part of the Ramstein Legacy 24 air and anti-missile training exercise led by the Allied Air Commander and concurrently held in Romania and Bulgaria. Therefore, the set target of the exercise was the engagement of a multinational structure for a defense operation of the territory and the population.

    PATRIOT and HAWK rocket systems have been used, as well as F-16, IAR-330 and IAR-96 aircrafts, ground-based air defense systems, command-control systems and military aircrafts of the participating countries. All throughout the 11 days of the training, the German military were visited by Ambassador Peer Gebauer. After Romania and Bulgaria, Germany was the biggest suppliers of troops for the Ramstein Legacy 24 exercise.

    In Romania, the exercise was connected to the DACIA 24 operative-tactical level multi-tasking training platform. A national objective in the unfolding of the exercise was finalizing the operationalization process of the second PATRIOT system which, following the live fire in Capu Midia range, was certified as mission-capable.

    The second training event connected to DACIA 24 is Scorpions Legacy 24. It is the exercise of the ground forces, organized by Southern Romania’s Craiova-based Southeast Multinational Brigade, staged in the Cincu range. Taking part in the exercise are roughly 1,600 Romanian and allied military (from Belgium, France, Italy, North Macedonia, Poland and Portugal). The set target of the exercise is strengthening the multinational cohesion through tactical training on the ground, with live fire.

    In a separate move, 200 Romanian and around 50 foreign military have represented the forces involved in „Eurasian Partnership Mine Counter Measure Dive 24” Multinational Exercise, led by the Diving Centre. The Black Sea was the venue for the training exercise whose set target was strengthening the interoperability and the operational training in the field of elimination of explosive devices and the fight against mines. The participating structures have held specific action to discover and neutralize two historical sea mines that had been identified during some of the exercises held in 2023.

    The NATO Fight group in Romania has a new commander. As part of a military ceremony held in Cincu range, Colonel Louis Marie Levacher took over the command of the eighth rotation from his comrade, colonel Benoît Chrissement. On this occasion, the area of the military camp where the French military are accommodated was named The General Berthelot Camp”, as a tribute to the French hero and a symbol of the ties France has with Romania. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled, in honor of General Henri Mathias Berthelot.

    We wrap up this week’s edition of our series with the visit of a French National Defense College delegation to central Romania’s Sibiu-based Headquarters Multinational Corps Southeast. The 120 civilian and military members have been welcomed by the commander of the multinational structure, Major-General Cristian Dan. The Romanian general highlighted the importance of the cooperation between the French Armed Forces and the multinational corps. According to general Cristian Dan, that is meant to enhance the two countries’ defense capabilities, at once strengthening the unity of NATO.

  • Headquarters Multinational Division south-east has led the Dacia Strike 24 exercise

    Headquarters Multinational Division south-east has led the Dacia Strike 24 exercise

    500 Romanian and allied military have participated in the Dacian Strike 24 exercise, led by the Headquarters Multinational Division South-east. The exercise was simultaneously carried in the target ranges of Smardan, Galati County, in the east, Capul Midia in Constanta County, in the south-east, and in Novo Selo, Bulgaria.

    Taking part in the training were military of the South-East Multinational Brigade, The American 82 Airborne Division and NATO Combat Group in Romania. Also included in the exercise were the French Brigade’s Forward Element stationed in our country, the 52 Artillery Regiment and the 282 Armoured Brigade.

    Involved in the exercise were IAR 99 Șoim, IAR 330 Puma Socat aircrafts of the 95 Airbase as well as Eurofighter Typhoon British Fighter jets.

    Canadian Lieutenant-colonel Kris Callaerts of the Headquarters Multinational Division South-east has stated that “Dacian Strike 24 has proved that the allied troops stationed in this part of Europe are a deterrent for any potential enemy”.

    Against the backdrop of NATO’s Forward Presence in the allied Eastern Flank, the Headquarters Multinational Division South-east, for more than two and a half years now has been coordinating the training and the integration of the forces under its operational control, as deterrent, in the case of any aggression in the area it is responsible for.

    The Romanian National Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr, has received in audience a Thales Alenia Space Italia delegation and the Italian Ambassador to Bucharest, His Excellency Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni. High on the agenda were topics pertaining to Romanian Army’s main endowment programs, ongoing or in preparation. To that effect, the stages have been reviewed, as well as the procedures, required by the Romanian legislation, but also the role of the structures with responsibilities in the process of foundation and approval of the modern military technique and equipment endowment programs.
    Also in Bucharest, the Defense Chief of Staff, General Gheorghita Vlad, had a meeting with his counterpart of the Hellenic Republic, General Dimitrios Choupis.

    Talks focused on the security context with emphasis on the Black Sea region, the measures the allies have taken to enhance the Eastern flank’s defensive architecture as well as on the diversification of the joint training, Also, the two officials broached a series of topics ahead of The Balkan Countries’ Defense Chiefs of Staff Conference on military cooperation problems.

    General Vlad praised the Romanian and Greek militaries’ contribution to regional stability through their participation in NATO and European Union missions and operations in the West Balkans. The Romanian MoD has highlighted that, “the presence of our Greek colleagues in the allied structures stationed in our country, as well as the participation of several air and naval capabilities belonging to the two armies, in multinational exercises, are the constant points of an excellent military cooperation. “

    In another move, we recall that more than 400 producers of military equipment and technique of almost 30 NATO member or partner states have participated in the ninth edition of the biggest regional event dedicated to defense and security, the Black Sea Defense and Aerospace. The event was held on the Romaero Baneasa platform in Bucharest. Jointly with the exhibiting companies, attending the event were more than 300 high-ranking foreign delegates and representatives of 55 states of all continents. As part of the exhibition, all five military operational fields were presented: the terrestrial, air naval, cyber and space fields. The main attraction was the 5th generation of the F-35 multipurpose aircraft the US Air Force, as an absolute first, has brought to Europe.

  • The biggest airdrop exercise since World War II

    The biggest airdrop exercise since World War II

    The multinational Swift Response 24 exercise is taking place on Romania’s territory until May 24, involving over 5,000 servicemen and 320 equipment from seven allied and partner states. Swift Response tests airdrop missions, which also involve reclaiming occupied military bases by achieving air superiority, airdropping allied forces in the area and carrying out live ammo fire practice in shooting ranges.

     

     

    The Swift Response, Saber Strike and Immediate Response exercise trio is part of the Defender 24 training program coordinated by the US Forces Command Europe, involving 40,000 troops from 20 allied and partner nations. The United States Army V Corps takes lead for this joint air operations exercise designed to increase readiness and interoperability among allied forces, also marking a key contribution to NATO’s deterrence posture.

     

     

    As part of training carried out in Romania, some 2,000 paratroopers from France, Germany, Romania, Spain, the USA and the Netherlands took part in the Joint Forcible Entry multinational airdrop operation, which also included paratrooper airdrop missions and military equipment landing drills. The main activity was originally planned for May 12, but since the weather is a contributing factor in the conduct of military operations, and the atmospheric conditions did not favor airdrop drills, the operation was shifted to Monday, May 13, in the area of ​​the 71st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii (central Romania). During the interval, similar operations were carried out in five other allied and partner states – Estonia North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Poland and Sweden, thus making Swift Response 24 the largest airdrop operation in Europe since World War II. Romania contributes 2,300 troops.

     

     

    Swift Response 24 is also connected to the Wind Spring 24/Dacia 24 military exercise in Romania, involving forces of the General Grigore Bălan 81st Mechanized Brigade, deployed in the Getica Training Center in Cincu, Brașov County (center), and in the Bogata polygon in Cluj County (northwest). The “Carpathian Hawks” from the 812th Infantry Battalion from Bistrita (northwest), together with soldiers from the Republic of Moldova, are currently conducting joint training sessions as part of the Wind Spring 24 exercise. Additionally, engineers from the 3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group took part in this exercise, focusing on procedures for breaching buildings using explosive devices, neutralizing IEDs discovered on site, as well as resolving incidents with conventional ammo.

     

     

    Another multinational exercise carried out during this period in Romania is Mountain Saber 24, whereby servicemen from the Dragoș Vodă 17th Ranger Battalion cooperated with French, North Macedonian, Polish and Portuguese peers.

     

     

    The NATO South-East Multinational Corps in Sibiu (center) organized the Carpathian Blood 24 multinational medical exercise this week, attended by representatives of the Land Forces Command, various NATO structures and national medical authorities. The exercises highlighted possible medical issues that may be encountered in the field, as well as solutions to provide effective and coordinated medical support. (VP)

  • Romania – a key partner supporting NATO’s deterrence and defense efforts

    Romania – a key partner supporting NATO’s deterrence and defense efforts

    Stepping up NATO’s military presence on the Eastern Flank is a key element of Allied deterrence. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent invasion of Ukraine in 2022 are events that have prompted NATO leaders to rethink their defense strategies. Romania holds an important place within the Alliance, a true anchor in the southern part of the allied eastern flank and a riparian of the Black Sea, a region with strategic relevance for European and Euro-Atlantic security. At the NATO summits of Madrid and Vilnius, in 2022 and 2023 respectively, Romania raised the issue of consolidating NATO’s presence in the Black Sea region.

     

     

    NATO’s advanced posture currently includes 8 multinational battle groups, provided by framework nations and supplemented by other allies. They are deployed in the 3 Baltic States, in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, thus covering the entire eastern flank. In Romania, the battle group is led by France, whereas the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are contributing troops. Currently, the group is at battalion level, but it is expected that, starting next year, it will grow to a brigade totaling 4,000 soldiers. Also in Romania, NATO also has several command structures: the South-East Multinational Corps in Sibiu (center) and the South-East Multinational Division in Bucharest, but also the South-East Multinational Brigade in Craiova (south) and the NATO Forces Integration Unit in Bucharest.

     

     

    Romania is a key partner in the development of the Alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts on the Eastern Flank by operationalizing the anti-missile shield at Deveselu (south) and by strengthening security in the Black Sea, jointly with its allies. A good example in that regard is the beginning of construction works for the expansion of the “Mihail Kogălniceanu” military base in Constanța County (southeast), which will be able to accommodate 10,000 NATO soldiers. The Romanian government pledged to invest 2.5 bln EUR in this project. Romania currently hosts around 5,000 foreign troops.

     

     

    The need to establish a permanent NATO naval group in the Black Sea region has been increasingly discussed of late. Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey must identify a common solution for ensuring security in the Black Sea. The model of the Baltic Sea, which practically became a so-called ‘NATO lake’ after the accession of Sweden and Finland, can be a good example in that respect. Strengthening relations between NATO and Ukraine or even accepting Ukraine as a NATO member can open up new possibilities for strengthening the Black Sea region.

     

     

    The fact that our country has the largest land border with Ukraine has impacted Romania’s role and position at NATO level. With respect to support for the neighboring country, Romania might offer Ukraine one of its Patriot air defense systems. It is a hypothesis advanced by president Klaus Iohannis following his visit to the USA. The decision can only be taken after consulting the Supreme Defense Council. Romania has four such Patriot systems, one of which has already been field-tested, and the other three are in advanced stages of operationalization. Should Romania press forward in that direction, it would be on these three systems that would reach Ukraine. “It is a rather intense discussion about who can provide Ukraine with Patriot systems. Romania has such systems at its disposal and Ukraine has approached us. President Joe Biden brought this up and I said I’m open to it. I will have to further discuss this back home, in the Supreme Defense Council, to see how we can solve the problem, what we can offer and, obviously, what we can receive in return because it is unacceptable that Romania remains without anti-aircraft defense”, president Iohannis said. (VP)

  • New aircraft for the European F-16 Training Center hosted by Romania

    New aircraft for the European F-16 Training Center hosted by Romania

    Three aircraft of the Dutch Air Force landed last week at the F-16 Training Center in Fetești. The Dutch Minister of Defense, Kajsa Ollongren, also arrived in Romania on board one of them. The Dutch planes were accompanied in the Romanian airspace by two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces, one of which carried the Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr. The aircraft landed at the 86th Air Base in Fetești, where the two officials discussed the security situation in the Black Sea region. In the European Training Center there are now 8 Dutch F-16 aircraft used for the training of the Romanian pilots and of those of allied and partner countries.

     

     

    On the other hand, the US Ambassador to Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, met with the American and Romanian soldiers stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (southeast). Kavalec said that the presence of American soldiers at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base is a symbol of the commitment of the United States to the security of Romania and the Alliance.

     

    My visit is intended to support Romania’s defense modernization efforts, including here, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu base, that hosts a large contingent of American forces, the largest contingent in Romania, said Katleen Kavalec.  Also, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base, five Eurofighter jets of the Spanish Air Force and a detachment of about 70 soldiers were deployed for aerial surveillance missions, after four of the six British fighter planes in our country were repositioned closer to the area of ​​Iran’s recent drone and missile attack on Israel.

     

    A group of soldiers from the 95th Air Base in Bacău (northeast) along with a French detachment participated in the VAMPIREX 24 exercise, held in the Secondary Combat Training Center Smârdan, Galati County (east). Also last week, in the Capu Midia range in Constanța county (south-east), a tactical exercise with live firing was held, in which the M-LIDS (Mobile-Low Integrated Defeat System), an anti-drone air system, was integrated into the military maneuvers carried out by the Romanian and US Armies. With the help of this system, the soldiers were able to identify, track and destroy the threats, using a combination of electronic warfare and high-caliber machine guns, according to a press release of the American Embassy in Romania. The deployment of the anti-drone air system in Romania is very important, M-LIDS being the newest anti-drone system of the US military that ensures successful countermeasures against enemy drones.

     

    SEA SHIELD 24, the biggest exercise of the Romanian Naval Forces this year, came to an end on Sunday, after two weeks of actions carried out by over 2,200 soldiers, of whom almost 400 foreign soldiers, with 135 technical means. Planning and conducting combat actions, combating illegal actions at sea and river, control of maritime and river traffic and search and rescue at sea, in keeping with NATO standards and in the context of current security threats, were practiced. (EE)

     

     

  • The Turkish Air Force, replaced by the British Air Force

    The Turkish Air Force, replaced by the British Air Force

    The Turkish Air Force Detachment has concluded its mission in our country. 80 military with four F-16 aircrafts for four months running have carried enhanced air patrol missions jointly with the Romanian Air Force, under NATO command.

     

    The mission’s closing ceremony was held at the 86 Airbase in Fetesti (in the South-east). Attending the ceremony was the deputy for operations of the Turkish Air Force Commander, major-general Kemal Turan. The Turkish general said, QUOTE, the joint training stages are part of the training the two armies’ pilots and the Alliance can adapt to any type of conflict, be they high or low-intensity, conventional or non-conventional. UNQUOTE.

     

    Also attending the ceremony was the deputy of the Romanian Defense Chief of Staff, lieutenant-general Dragos Iacob. The Romanian general said, QUOTE the presence of the Turkish Air Force Detachment is a clear proof of NATO partners’ common will to work together under the umbrella of the greatest defensive alliance, UNQUOTE.

     

    Meanwhile, six Eurofighter Typhoon aircrafts of the British Air Force have reached the 57 Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in Constanta County (in the south-east). For the next four months, 200 British military will be in our country for Enhanced Air Police missions. It is the fifth rotation of the British Air Force capabilities for such missions, after those carried in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022.

     

    A new facility is soon to be added to the Brasov International Airport (central Romania) meant to support the activity of NATO forces. Those responsible for the objective jointly with the allied combat Group in Cincu seek to develop, earlier than May this year, a landing airport that would enable the landing of big-size military aircrafts.

     

    For the first time since the Aigle Mission has been established in Romania, a military logistics support aircraft has landed at the Brasov airport. The aircraft is a French Army Boeing C130. The creation of a new landing airport entails certain improvements in keeping with the current logistic challenges. The airport has the role of reducing the delivery time. At present, the military of the Combat Group deployed in Cincu (central Romania) use the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in Constanta, in the south-east, lying at ten hours’ drive with military vehicles.

     

    The deputy of the commander of the Multinational South-east Division Headquarters and Senior National Representative of the French Army in Romania, brigade general Loïc Girard has been on a working visit in Cluj-Napoca (in the northwest). The French general had a meeting with the Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, Major General Bogdan Cernat and Brigade general Nicolae Oros, the commander of the 61 Mountain Hunters brigade, a Romanian army unit with which the French allies carry regular joint training exercises.

     

    The three officials analyzed the interoperability development opportunities between the Romanian and the French troops, through training exercises carried by the NATO Combat group in Romania, currently under French command, and various army structures in our country.

     

    Romanian and Foreign military as part of the NATO Forces Integration Unit in Romania and their families got together in Bucharest for a charity fair, organized on the premises at the Southeast Multinational Division Headquarters, to celebrate NATO’s 75th anniversary. As part of a makeshift bazaar, militaries sold various handmade objects. The funds raised were donated to the Casa Buna(Good House) non-governmental organization.

     

    Casa Buna is an NGO supporting children coming from underprivileged families in their bid to go to school and complete their studies. Also attending the event were military of the Advanced Command Element of the French Brigade stationed in Romania’s capital city.

     

     

  • Romania: the Eastern flank

    Romania: the Eastern flank

    Constanta County’s “Mihail Kogălniceanu” military base, dubbed MK by the US military, is located in south-eastern Romania, very close to the Black Sea. MK will be expanded as part of a project worth 2.5 billion Euro or thereabouts. MK will thus become NATO’s largest such facility in eastern Europe. According to its new layout, MK will stretch along a surface area of 2,800 hectares. It will host roughly 10,000 military and their families. It is estimated that works for all four stages of the project will be completed by 2038.

     

    The project stipulates the construction of all that is necessary for the functioning and the missions of a base of such dimensions, said the Commander of the 57 Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase, Nicolae Cretu.:

     

    “The project, in its first stage, the contracted one, stipulates the development and the construction of a new runway. Then we will focus on the integration of the newly-built facilities into the existing facilities and that is why we will connect the two runways, so they can be used at full capacity when needed. After that, we will build running belts for the aircrafts. We will have the facilities, the operational area that will be capable of supplying the fighter jets but also the aircrafts carrying personnel, troops, materials, ammunition with all that is needed for the relocated capabilities. Then we will have a new control tower, so that later we can expand the troops’ receiving capacity and develop the permanent infrastructure, so we can provide the required standards for all military, the Romanian ones, but also tor he military of our allies and partners who will be stationed at the base. ”

     

    At the end of the third development stage, the base will host roughly 10,000 military and their families. The figure is similar to that of Europe’s largest US military base, located in Ramstein, Germany. But not only the number of stationed militaries is important, as part of the project stretching over two decades.

     

    Commander Nicolae Creţu stated that “underlying the ongoing development there is no such thing as comparison or competition. It is an array of capabilities that in time turned out to be required, in a bid to be installed in the area, while their destination is the expansion of the security and safety zone the Alliance can project over the Black Sea basin. The most impending need stems from the development of the air capabilities, because only that way we can receive the other categories of ground forces and special operations. Apart from the development project, we concurrently work on many other levels. We focus on the integration of the two infrastructure areas. We also focus on maintaining the existing infrastructure operational. Also, the development of the capability targeting the receiving and welcoming of the militaries has been permanently dynamic. Apart from the permanent infrastructure, we also have semi-permanent or temporary infrastructure available, which belongs not only to the Romanian Air Force but also to our allies and partners, the commander of the Mihail Kogalniceanu base also stated. ”

     

    The project kicked off as early as 2018, when the first legislative act was passed. It is almost entirely financed through the state budget, via the National Defense Ministry. As we have mentioned before, it is divided into four development stages.

     

    The first stage has been contracted already, it began in 2024 and will be completed in five years’ time.

     

    The second stage will continue and consists in erecting the hangars for the aircrafts, simulators, ammunition and fuel warehouse, feeding facilities.

     

    Stages three and four focus on the administrative aspects, which pertain rather to the staff’s standard of living and their support. That also includes social facilities where the military can live with their families. At present, in MK, there are roughly 3,500 US and Allied military, that including the 82nd Airborne Division. At times, MK has temporarily played host to up to 5,000 military.

  • Training continues in target ranges across the country

    Training continues in target ranges across the country

    The military of the Constanta-based Marasesti 9th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (in the south-east) jointly with partners of Republic of Moldova and the USA, for two weeks running took part in the Justice Eagle 24 multinational exercise carried in the Combat Training Center in Babadag. One of the sequences of the exercise was held in Topraisar. There, the Engineers of the 9th Mechanized Brigade trained jointly with the US military dislodged in Romania.

     

    Here is what the Commander of the US Army’s 21 Engineers Battalion, Lieutenant-colonel Joseph Byrnes, had to say about the exercise:

     

    “In the past weeks we carried a joint training session in the decision-making process, we planned a military operation we’re now implementing and it was an opportunity to share tactics, techniques and procedures. The US forces are here as partners of Romanian military and they work together, develop joint training opportunities proving the allied will to carry military operations together, if need be. ”

     

    Throughout the exercise, the military of the three participating states had the opportunity to prove themselves in terms of physical performance, so much so that 8 sports teams of 5 members each competed as part of the Highland Games contest, where they had to pass a couple of endurance tests.

     

    «Justice Eagle» is a biannual exercise including live ammunition shooting with several categories of weapons. Its eventual aim is to develop capabilities and enhance the degree of interoperability between the participating contingents.

     

    Also in South-eastern Romania, sequences of the «Trojan Footprint 24» exercise were held, for the military of special force operations. 2,000 military of 13 allied and partner states, for two weeks running took part in training stages held in Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany, Greece, North Macedonia and Romania. The exercise was led by the United States Special Operations Command Europe. Its eventual aim was to demonstrate the USA, NATO allies and partner nations’ capacity to mount a resolute response in the case of any threat coming from any direction.

     

    The «Trojan Footprint» series of exercises first took off in 2002. Since 2016, it has been held every two years. In 2024, the Trojan Footprint is being held under the umbrella of Steadfast Defender, the biggest NATO exercise. in the last decades.

     

    We’re now heading towards another shooting range, central Romania’s shooting range in Cincu. There the military of the Caracal-based Romanați 22nd Infantry Battalion, jointly with their North-Macedonian, Polish and Portuguese partners held an on-the-ground training exercise which included, towards its final part, live ammunition shooting sessions.

     

    Also enjoying a unique experience were the French military of the NATO Combat Group dislodged in Cincu; for a couple of days the French military trained jointly with the 30th Mountain Huntsmen Battalion as part of a series of sessions focusing on urban warfare action. Also, they exchanged knowledge and operational procedures pertaining to the type of technical combat which implies a high degree of coordination.

     

    Regarding diplomacy, the Romanian National Defense Minister Angel Tilvar held a meeting with the US Deputy Chief of Mission to Bucharest, Michael Dickerson. Several relevant topics were discussed, pertaining to the present security environment. Special emphasis was being laid on NATO developments on the Eastern flank. The Romanian Defense Minister took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of strengthening the Strategic Partnership with

  • Romania. The Eastern Flank

    Romania. The Eastern Flank

    The headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense hosted a meeting between the new head of the National Guard of the State of Alabama, Brigadier General David Prichett, and the Romanian Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr. The agenda of the meeting included discussions on security in the Black Sea region in the context of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression in Ukraine. During the meeting, aspects related to the Romanian-American cooperation in the field of defense were also addressed, through the lens of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the USA and the State Partnership Program with the Alabama National Guard, launched more than three decades ago.

     

    The agenda of the American delegation’s visit to Romania also included the 57th Air Base in Mihail Kogălniceanu (southeast Romania). The commander of the air base, Commandant Nicolae Crețu, presented the main short, medium and long-term objectives, detailing the areas of responsibility and highlighted the extremely active and important role played by the partnership with the National Guard of the State of Alabama, in the creation, operationalization and maintaining the base capabilities. Those present at the event learned about the role of the 57th Air Base in the current security context, the challenges encountered in integrating plans and operations with the detachments belonging to the allied states deployed at the base and the accelerated way in which the capacity to host allied forces is being developed in order to strengthen the eastern flank and consolidate the deterrence posture.

     

    The American delegation also visited the Multinational Corps Southeast Command in Sibiu (center). The commander of this structure, Major General Cristian Dan, gave the American guests an overview of the mission, objectives and current challenges of the Corps, also highlighting the areas of collaboration, as an essential objective for achieving collective security. General David Prichett assured the representatives of the Multinational Corps of the support of the Alabama National Guard in the planned training activities.

     

    We continue with information from the 86th Air Base in Fetești (south-east), where the Romanian and Turkish Air Forces, located in our country for the joint missions of reinforced air policing carried out a demonstration exercise. According to the scenario, the F-16 planes intercepted a foreign aircraft that had entered the Romanian airspace and had lost communication links. In the Fetești Air Base there was also a detachment of the French Air Force, consisting of 40 soldiers and three Rafale aircraft, one of which was also used in the joint training exercise with the Romanian and Turkish pilots.

     

    The joint reinforced air policing missions under NATO command contribute to increasing the allied capacity for rapid reaction and deterrence, and the presence of French pilots in our country is part of the new NATO concept of rapid deployment of forces.

     

    The last piece of news in today’s program comes from Sibiu, where the Association of Reserve Officers from Romania, with the support of the Defense General Staff, organized, at the headquarters of the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy, the International Seminar for young reserve officers from NATO and partner countries. The meeting was attended by reserve officers from Romania, respectively from Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Georgia and the Netherlands. The presentations were made by the members of the committee for reserve officers, representatives of the “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy, as well as of the Multinational Corps Southeast Command. The topic of the seminar was aimed at knowing the particularities of NATO, how to plan operations, the general process of crisis management and the analysis of the geostrategic situation. (Andra Barbul) (tr. LS)

  • US military train in Cincu

    US military train in Cincu

     

    The American military stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base have trained for a week at Cincu training ground, in Brașov county. They form part of the 101st Airborne Division and simulated infiltrating enemy territory using Black Hawk helicopters to land in training areas. It is the third exercise of this kind they have participated in, since their arrival in Romania. The Romanian land forces were kind enough to let us train in their area, Captain Joseph Palazini, said. We have shootings with teams of 9-10 soldiers, who infiltrate here, in this complex, under real shooting conditions and do different maneuvers, the military commander also said. I have seen these days how people are progressing and they do much better with the equipment they have, using this terrain and these conditions, Captain Joseph Palazini, of the 101st Airborne Division, concluded. Several thousand American soldiers are permanently stationed at Romanian bases to strengthen defense on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States has reached its third 9-month rotation in Romania.

     

     

     

    The Chief of the Defense Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, met with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurchinovski, who was on an official visit to Romania on February 26 and 27. Talks focused on the security situation, with an emphasis on the West Balkan region, and on NATO’s Eastern Flank, enhancing bilateral and allied collaboration, as well as collaboration within regional initiatives. The Chief of Defense highlighted the contribution of the three rotations of the North Macedonian military to the Southeast Multinational Brigade. “Joint training, as well as participation in NATO and EU missions, strengthens the partnership between the two armies, increases the level of training and interoperability. We have identified new opportunities for cooperation, given the priority of maintaining stability in the West Balkans, and strengthening the allied deterrence and defense posture in the context of the security crisis generated by the war in Ukraine”, General Gheorghiță Vlad said.

     

     

     

    The agenda of the North Macedonian Chief of Defense included visits to the units of the Southeast Multinational Brigade. At the ceremony held at the 1st Olt Infantry Battalion in Caracal, the deployment unit of the Macedonian contingent, honorary distinctions were handed out to some Romanian and Macedonian soldiers. At the same time, the members of the delegation met with the soldiers of the Macedonian contingent and visited the barracks and the facilities made available to them.  General Gjurchinovski thanked for the support provided by the Romanian military in the training program and said: “As a commander, you cannot feel a greater satisfaction than to witness the progress made since the beginning. For us, the military of the Republic of North Macedonia, to take part in these activities means a lot, in spite of the fact that we are only a platoon of 34 soldiers. Our nation has to start somewhere, and thanks to our partners and allies, we are building a stronger force, based on lessons learned and improving national doctrines and concepts.” (EE)

     

  • High school students in Fagaras learn French with the support of NATO military

    High school students in Fagaras learn French with the support of NATO military


    The NATO military from France, on a mission to Cincu, central Romania, have forged a partnership with Doamna Stanca National College in Fagaras, with the purpose of helping high school students learn French. For three months now, the French classes at the college in Fagaras are held in the presence and support of the French soldiers. This activity will continue and the French soldiers hope that such classes will also be introduced in other education units in Fagaras and Cincu. “We have initiated this activity in order to boost partnership ties among military in Cincu and Fagaras, especially to get in touch with the students. We are here not only to enhance military forces but also to renew the relations among us “, Francois Xaviar, representing the French troops, said.



    This is not the first such event. At the beginning of the month, Brigade General Loic Girard, Deputy Commander of the Southeast Multinational Division Command and French National Representative in Romania, discussed about the military career with students of the French High School in Bucharest. The first French General on duty in Romania after General Berthelot in WW1, Loic Girard is a graduate of the prestigious military school in Saint Cyr. France currently has around 1,000-1,200 soldiers in Romania who train jointly with Romanian and allied soldiers from the NATO Battle Group in rotations lasting 4-6 months. At the same time, in the event of a degradation of the security situation and the increase in the threat level in the region, France has committed to increase the military participation from the current regiment level to brigade level, which is to a force of 4000-5000 soldiers, obviously French and allied troops.



    Craiova (southern Romania) hosted at the headquarters of the “Neagoe Basarab”, 26th Infantry Battalion, the authority transfer ceremony of the military contingents from Poland, the 13th and 14th rotations. The Polish military contingent within the South-East Multinational Brigade is part of the joint initiative, with the mission of contributing to ensuring the advanced presence adapted on the Eastern Flank of the Alliance, in accordance with the measures adopted at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in 2016.



    At Cincu training base, Belgian and French soldiers with the NATO Battle Group, along with Romanian, Portuguese and North Macedonian detachments from the South-East Multinational Brigade, participated in the allied exercise Eagle Thunder, simulating a battle between armored vehicles. During the exercise, more than 680 NATO soldiers with over 100 armored vehicles trained together for trench and urban warfare and fired with the weapons from the equipment of the armored vehicles. The purpose of this exercise was to strengthen military cooperation among different allied nations, engaging in the field most of the NATO allies present in Romania.



    The French soldiers with the NATO Battle Group in Romania, fired real shots from Capu Midia range (south-east), at offshore targets, as part of the Royal Eagle 24.1 exercise. The M270 LRU multiple rocket launchers, 155mm Caesar self-propelled howitzers and 20mm guns mounted on armored vehicles were used. (Bogdan Dinu)