Radio România Internațional

Category: Romania. The Eastern Flank

  • Romania – the Eastern Flank

    Romania – the Eastern Flank


    Four F-16 jet fighters plus one 80-strong Turkish detachment have been carrying out enhanced air policing missions in Romanias airspace for more than two months now. They arrived in Romania in late November and on December 5th they got NATO certification for carrying out air policing missions in Romania. Since then they have carried out numerous flights and training missions jointly with their Romanian counterparts on F-16 planes and for a short period of time with the German Eurofighters deployed to Air Base 57 in Mihail Kogalniceanu, south-eastern Romania, in December.


    The Turkish servicemen, who have been stationed at Air Base 86, “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniţă” in Borcea (south-eastern Romania), are for the first time in Romania to carry out enhanced air policing missions. However, suchlike missions arent their first, because they have already carried out similar operations in Lithuania and Poland.


    “Shortly after we had landed we were getting ready for mission. We got battle-ready in 15 minutes, ready to start air policing missions. We are here to protect the airspace against any military or civilian aircraft that might violate international flight rules. We are ready 24/7 to intervene against any aggression but we havent encountered any yet, so weve had only training missions, alert simulations, the so-called “Tango Scramble” to maintain the response capability at a higher level permanently, Major Unsal, one of the Turkish Air Force pilots stationed in Borcea, told Euronews. When not training the Turkish pilots are enjoying their stay in Romania. “The food is very good. I can say that I like very much the gulas and shaworma here; they are very similar to the traditional food in Turkey. There are lots of historical sites and we are glad we have been here and can see them,” Major Unsal went on to say.


    Both the Romanian servicemen and the allies who have done air policing in Romania have carried out scores of real interception missions. War planes also took off whenever Russian drones flew over Romanias airspace on their way to hit the Ukrainian ports on the Danube. The last incident of this kind was in December. Out of the four Turkish F-16 fighter jets deployed to Borcea, one is with double command, which could be linked to the recent opening here of the European Training Center for F-16.


    The first two months of mission, out of the four initially envisaged, have ended and last week saw the rotation of the Turkish Air Force detachment on mission in Romania.


    Four F-16 fighters and 73 servicemen belonging to the Turkish Air Force, which are to ensure the second rotation of the mission of the detachment stationed in Romania, arrived at Airbase 86 in Borcea on January 25. Their mission in Romania will end in March. A detachment of Eurofighters from Britain is expected to arrive at Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in March also for enhanced air policing missions.


    From January 27th until February 4, the US 82 airborne division jointly with the Romanian allies is carrying out joint drills including transport of military gear and equipment by means of both the military helicopters and ground facilities. The drill is covering a large area, the air corridor between the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase and the main training range in Cincu, in the county of Brasov, central Romania.


    (bill)


  • Engines at full throttle

    Engines at full throttle



    2024 appears to be an eventful year in terms of training and exercise for Romanian military. but also for the foreign detachments dislodged as part of the NATO Combat Group, on Romanian territory. Irrespective of the country and the arms they are part of, for all military, specialized preparation is the underpinning element of their training programme.




    Early into 2024, training was ongoing for the French, Luxembourg and Portuguese partners at the military training range in central Romanias Cincu base. The set target of the training session, specific for anti-aircraft defense, was that of enhancing the interoperability level among the forces that took part in the mission.




    Here is what platoon commander of the Portuguese military, second-lieutenant Maria Ines Cruz, had to say about the aforementioned exercise:




    “We participated in training under difficult conditions, including both specialized preparation and a physical preparation session, meant to increase cohesion within a mixed team. The most important tactical moments during training were the movement of vehicles in difficult terrain, the engagement of targets the response to an ambush and the observation of the Frech anti-drone weapons”




    Apart from the anti-aircraft artillery forces, also engaged in the training session were the French and Belgian tank corps who for three weeks now have undergone training as part of a multinational exercise that tests their stamina but also the response on the battle field. The start of the training session was given straight from central Romanias Bogata range. The military of the three nations will implement all procedures and tactics they acquired in time, so that they can be harmonized with a maximum efficiency. Lieutenant-colonel Mihai Pintiliciuc, the commander of 841 Tanks Battalion is well aware of the fact that “2024 will be a difficult year, replete with training activities and challenges which we are set to approach using the experience we acquired throughout the years. This year we want to maintain the pace of our training, staging at least four exercises in the Turda range, one in Cincu and, most likely, the biggest one in the coming fall, in the Smardan shooting range, Zimbrul 24.”




    We recall France is the frame nation leading the Combat Group on Romanian territory. France is the leading contributor in terms of troops and technical equipment, with its state-of-the art Leclerc tanks. Here is what the Head of NATOo Combat Group in Romania, lieutenant-colonel Constant Deforge, said ” The Present French detachment has been dislodged in Romania since November, long enough for them to get accustomed to the climate conditions and seize the auspicious opportunity to work alongside the Romanian partners, in a range other than the one in Cincu. “




    We now leave the Bogata training range and reach the Getica Joint National Training Center, based in Cincu, Brasov. There the Luxembourg military received the visit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourgs Defense Minister, Yuricko Bockes and the Luxembourg head of defense, General Steve Thull. The high-ranking officials were welcomed by the Romania National Defense Minister, Angel Tîlvăr and the Romanian Chief of Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad. High on the agenda was the security in the Black Sea region and the West Balkans. The high-ranking participants laid emphasis on the continuation of offering support to Ukraine and Republic of Moldova. Also, the parties involved analyzed the stage of the bilateral cooperation relations in the military field and the improvement prospects of these relations, especially in the field of joint training and cyber defense.




  • A joint training program, air policing missions and a multinational exercise

    A joint training program, air policing missions and a multinational exercise

    The
    Henri Coanda Air Force Academy, based in Central Romania’s Brasov County, over December
    4th and 15th, with the support of a mobile training team and part of the Inter-European Air Forces Academy, played host to the Basic Instructor
    Course. The course is a form of military training placing the trainees in the
    role of the instructor, through the step-by-step correction of the training
    method. Taking part in the aforementioned program there were 23 trainees,
    officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and professional enlisted
    soldiers from the USA, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia,
    Georgia and Romania.

     

     

    The
    administrative representative of the Inter-European Air Forces Academy,
    Major Melissa Guldan, stated for the Military Journal radio show:

     

    The mission
    of the institution is to offer, through education and training, optimal inter-operability
    circumstances for the military of the two continents. The course was very important
    in that it contributed to the development of the inter-personal abilities, but
    also to a high degree of implementation of the tactics, techniques and procedures among
    militaries from various countries.

     

     

    Instructors
    and students alike were impressed by the Romanian food, by the tradition and
    history of the Romanian people. The food is delicious, now that the Christmas
    fairs are open, we had the chance to enjoy the locals’ hospitality and friendship
    said a student in the Basic Instructor Ccourse, sergeant Candon Hopkins.

     

     

    These
    days, four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets of the German Air Force completed
    their mission in Romania. Under NATO command, the German pilots, members of
    the 150-strong contingent of militaries who were posted to Romania have carried
    air policing missions jointly with the Romanian Air Force. Apart from the
    fighter jets, at the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base, located in south-eastern
    Romania’s Constanta County, the German troops also brought a high-performance drone-detection
    system with a range of flight standing at more than 40 kilometers. We are prepared
    to defend the Romanian air space and NATO territory said the commander of the
    German contingent, lieutenant-colonel Markus Kuchenbaur.

     

     

    We
    stay with the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base. The command of the US troops deployed in Romania for the strengthening of the allied Eastern flank has been handed over to the one of the US army’s best-known units, the 82nd Airborne
    Division. The authority transfer ceremony, from the 10th Mountain Division to
    the famous US division was held last week. The rotation of the command
    structure is in accordance with the US Amy resolution to maintain its presence
    in south-eastern Europe for the support of the NATO allies and the partners, To
    that end, here is what the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division,
    Major General J. Patrick Work, said: It is an extraordinary privilege for the 82nd
    Airborne Division to be here, in Romania, and in the entire eastern flank of
    the Alliance. We respect the professionalism of the Romanian Army and we truly
    understand Romania’s strategic perspective. The Alliance’s and Romania’s success
    is our success as well.

     

     

    Romania has played host to a training exercise, with the
    participation of the NATO Battle Group Forward Presence military. The exercise
    was held at the Training Base of the 307th Marine Infantry Battalion
    in Babadag, in the east. Dacian Winter was held over December 11 and 15,
    targeting the training of the battle group’s command point. Also taking part in
    the exercise were soldiers of a French brigade. In command of the exercise was the
    Multinational Division Southeast.

     

     

    The commander of the Battle Group Forward Presence, French
    colonel Patrick Guillaume, said: We cooperate with military from Belgium and
    Luxembourg, as they are part of the multinational battalion. We have been
    working on their integration. We work with a multinational brigade, with
    Spanish, Romanian, US military. We work with a lot of nations, together, as we
    are aware that together we are strong.

     

  • Romanian and Turkish Airmen Join Forces in NATO Missions

    Romanian and Turkish Airmen Join Forces in NATO Missions

    Last week, Air Base 86, (named after Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniţă), in Feteşti (south-east Romania), hosted the certification ceremony of the Turkish Air Force detachment deployed to Romania to perform missions for enhanced air policing. The activity took place in the presence of the ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Bucharest, Özgür Kıvanç Altan, the commander of the Torrejon Multinational Air Operations Center, Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sánchez De Lara, the deputy for operations of the Turkish Air Force, Major General Kemal Turan, and of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Major General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi.




    Secretary of State with the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, Simona Cojocaru, said during the ceremony: “This NATO Enhanced Air Policing mission, with the participation, for the first time, of the Air Force of the Republic of Turkey, is of vital importance for the deterrence and defense posture, for protecting allied airspace, and maintaining the security and stability of our region. The Republic of Turkey is a strategic partner and ally of Romania”.




    Chief of defense staff General Gheorghiță Vlad recalled that, this year, the allied solidarity for strengthening the air police service of the Romanian Air Force materialized through the participation in surveillance and air defense missions of some American, French, Italian, Spanish, and German detachments, and now the Turkish detachment. Joint air police missions contribute to the development of reaction and deterrence capacity, as well as to the strengthening of interoperability between the Romanian Air Force and the Turkish Air Force.




    We stay within the scope of NATO, to tell you that soldiers from the combat group deployed to Romania participated in the second Eagle Fury exercise of their mandate, under Belgian command, alongside the Romanian troops from the 20th Black Scorpions Infantry Battalion. The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate different tactical shooting scenarios, by integrating the joint action of the French, Romanian, Polish, and Luxembourg soldiers with the Belgian ones. Thus, all allied forces deployed to Romania maintained and validated their joint operational capability. Fire sessions with Belgian Piranha armored vehicles, French light armored vehicles, and Leclerc tanks took place at the Smârdan Secondary Combat Training Center, in Galati county (east). Over two days, over 57,800 rounds were fired, and over a hundred smoke bombs.




    Also in our country, and also in terms of training, from December 4 to 8, the Mountain Thunder 23 multinational exercise took place in the Vatra Dornei garrison (north). The exercise, held by the soldiers from the 17th Dragoș Vodă Mountain Hunter Battalion, included soldiers of NATO troops from France, Poland, Belgium, and Portugal deployed on Romanian territory. Several platoons from these countries trained together in mountaineering and close combat in mountainous terrain. NATO soldiers also experienced different forms of combat in the locality, as well as marches in mountainous terrain, through the snowy mountains of the Vatra Dornei area. At the end, the multinational teams organized shooting sessions, exchanging weapons and equipment with each other to get to know each other better.


    by Constantin Herțanu

  • December 1, Romania’s National Day, celebrated together with the NATO allies

    December 1, Romania’s National Day, celebrated together with the NATO allies


    On Romania’s National
    Day, celebrated on December 1st, NATO partners together with the Romanian
    military participated in a series of activities aimed at marking the 105th
    anniversary of the Great Union (the union of territories predominantly
    inhabited by Romanians into one state). About 250 foreign soldiers paraded
    under the Triumphal Arch in Bucharest, as part of detachments from Belgium,
    France, North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal,
    the United States of America and the Netherlands, as well as soldiers from the
    allied countries contributing to the NATO structures on the territory of
    Romania. The foreign soldiers brought along 23 pieces of equipment, including
    combat aircraft from Germany, the US and Turkey.






    The
    French detachment of the Multinational Battlegroup paraded with the famous
    Leclerc AMX-56 tanks. The Luxembourgish detachment passed under the Arch with
    Dingo 2 all-protected reconnaissance vehicles, while the Belgian automotive
    detachment was represented by Piranha III armored infantry vehicles, and the
    soldiers of the North Macedonian contingent saluted from a Humvee vehicle. The
    Polish partners deployed within the 26th Infantry Battalion in Craiova
    (southern Romania) paraded on Rosomak armored amphibious infantry carriers, and
    the Portuguese colleagues finished the car parade with Pandur armored off-road
    vehicles.







    A formation of three F-16 aircraft of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which will serve the European F-16 Training Center, flew in the sky. Another flyover was made by two German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, which have been participating in NATO-led Enhanced Air Policing missions for four weeks. The flight was completed by a formation of 3 F-16 aircraft from Turkey.

    In
    another move, on the last day of November, Turkey deployed in our country, at
    the 86th Air Base in Borcea (south-east), a detachment consisting of four F-16
    aircraft and 80 soldiers who will execute, together with Romanian Air Force
    soldiers, Enhanced Air Policing missions under NATO command. Air policing
    activity in the NATO area aims to preserve the security of the organization’s
    airspace. This mission is a collective task provided by NATO members and
    involves the continuous presence of combat aircraft and crews, with the aim of
    being able to react quickly to possible violations of the airspace of the
    Alliance members.






    Regarding
    the joint training of soldiers from the ground forces, the last week of
    November was marked by a joint training of military detachments from three NATO
    member countries: France, Belgium and Romania, brought together as part of the
    Eagle Sapper exercise. During it, multinational training activities were
    carried out, provided for in the training programs at the level of the North
    Atlantic Alliance, all culminating in the construction by the engineers of a
    floating bridge over the Danube intended for equipment and personnel.







    And the latest information concerns the transfer of authority of the Portuguese contingent deployed in Romania. Thus, Major Ivo Pereira, the commander of the third detachment, handed over the command to his colleague, Major Andre Valente. At the end of his term, Major Pereira stated that the time spent in Romania can be defined as a challenge because, he said, we always learn something. This time we learned things related to the ability of several nations to work together, as a unitary whole. (MI)

  • “Rakkasan” replaces “Bastogne” in Romania

    “Rakkasan” replaces “Bastogne” in Romania


    The transfer of authority ceremony between 1st Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” and 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasan” took place on Friday, November 24, at the Mihail Kogăniceanu Air Base and was hosted by the 10th Mountain Division. The ceremony marked the arrival to Romania of the detachment of the 3rd Brigade, respectively the departure of the detachment of the 1st Brigade to Fort Campbell, in Kentucky.



    The 3rd Brigade military started arriving in Europe and at Mihail Kogălniceanu base since the beginning of November. It is a one-to-one rotation, without reductions or increases in numbers or structures. Around 3,800 soldiers from the 3rd Brigade “Rakkasan” are already deployed or will be deployed in locations throughout Europe for a 9-month mission, in six countries, including Poland, Germany, Bulgaria and Romania. The brigade operates in support of the US 5th Army Corps and is tasked with strengthening NATOs eastern flank, securing European allies and partners and deterring any possible Russian aggression.



    So far, the 101st Airborne Division has deployed three of its brigades to southeastern Europe in the last 18 months. For Colonel Ricardo Turner, commander of the 3rd Brigade, this is the second time he is on a mission to the Black Sea area this year. he thanked his Romanian allies for their warm welcome.



    Both brigades are part of the 101st Airborne Division. The 3rd Brigade returns to Europe for the first time since the 1970s and its reactivation in 2004. The name of the brigade comes from the end of the Second World War when it acted as an occupation force in Japan and its approximate translation is “umbrella man falling from the sky” as the Japanese, who watched their parachute training jumps, used to call them.



    Germany supports its NATO ally, Romania, in surveilling the airspace within the enhanced air policing mission. Four Eurofighter jets of the German Air Force and a detachment of 140 soldiers have arrived at the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base near Constanța. They have been operational starting on November 27 and will strengthen the air defense on NATO’s south-eastern flank and will also participate in the air parade on December 1, when Romania marks its the National Day.



    The German ambassador to Romania, Peer Gebauer, warmly welcame the members of the German intervention contingent in Romania saying that by participating again in the reinforced air policing mission, Germany shows that it stands by its ally, Romania, and collaborates to secure the ally territory.

  • Romania. The Eastern Flank

    Romania. The Eastern Flank

    A new detachment of French soldiers has arrived in Romania, replacing the one that for 4 months has carried out missions on our country’s territory alongside the allied partners and the Romanian forces.



    Attending the authority transfer ceremony held on Friday, November 3, at the National Combined Training Center in Cincu, the deputy commander of the Multinational Division Southeast Command, Brigadier General Loic Girard, thanked everyone for their efforts and stated that his presence at the ceremony is meant to “highlight once again the level of operationalization of the NATO battle group. It is a multinational battle group made up of military from Belgium, France and Luxembourg. I appreciate the very good and special relationship that we have with the Romanian citizens and especially with the Romanian military with whom we meet in all phases of training and mutual support”.



    One of the objectives this year was to strengthen the artillery and engineer capabilities of the battle group. At the same time, under the coordination of the Multinational Division Southeast Command, ties with the allied forces deployed in Romania were strengthened through a consistent program of missions and exercises.



    At the end of the mandate of the fifth rotation, Colonel Philippe le Duc stated that he had achieved all his objectives, the biggest challenge being “the mountain range and the passes of the Carpathians which are a very important tactical point. Of course, we had to train and highlight the interoperability between the two armed forces of the NATO alliance”.



    Set up in May 2022 by transforming the allied multinational elements within the NATO Response Force deployed in our country, the NATO Battle Group is currently sized at the level of a battalion, but is designed to expand, if necessary, at the level of brigade. Established as a NATO allied defense and deterrence military force, deployed to protect and ensure security in the states closest to Russia, this formation deployed at the National Combined Training Center in Cincu has approximately 1,500 soldiers. The number of deployed forces will increase by 230 Spanish soldiers, their presence being announced by the Spanish Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, on the sidelines of the informal meeting of the defense ministers of the European Union member states.



    France is the framework nation that leads the battle group on the territory of Romania as it contributes to the greatest extent both troops and in terms of technical equipment, the spearhead of this structure being the 13 Leclerc tanks as well as the M270 multiple launch missile system.



    An exercise with multinational participation that has taken place these days at the National Combined Training Center is Black Scorpions, which involved more than 450 soldiers from the 20th Infantry Battalion “Black Scorpions” as well as allied soldiers from North Macedonia, Poland and Portugal, with over 60 technical combat equipment. The training was aimed at increasing the cohesion of the training structures through field training exercises and tactical exercises with combat firing.



    In the context of the centennial anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, the Institute for Political Studies of Defense and Military History together with the “Fatih” Institute of Military History in Istanbul organized a symposium at the Palace of the National Military Circle. One of the states contributing personnel to the forces of NATOs Multinational Division Southeast Command in Sibiu is Turkey, its presence also being noted at sea during the exercises, the last exercise being the one carried out together with the frigate Queen Marie, dedicated to the National Day of Turkey.



    We remain in the Black Sea area to announce the visit, to the Fleet Command, of the commander of the South-East Europe Brigade, Brigadier General Bilbil Bitri, the work agenda including topics related to the security situation in the Black Sea region. (Teodora Mazere, tr. LS)

  • Romania, the Eastern Flank

    Romania, the Eastern Flank

    A team of trainers from British
    Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) has coordinated a course of command and
    leadership in Romania in cooperation with the units subordinated to the 18th
    Search and Supervision brigade Decebalus based in Timisoara, western Romania.
    The British team stationed in the Czech Republic has the mission to provide military
    training courses, training assistance, counseling to the partner countries
    helping them to develop professional armed forces and capabilities able to
    participate in multinational support, regional and peacekeeping missions.




    The team spent two weeks with the
    32nd Search and Surveillance Battalion Mircea in Timisoara where it
    built the theoretical framework for the training of the Romanian servicemen and
    then moved on to the training ground.




    Sergent Darryl Rennie, who is a
    trainer with the BMATT, told us quote it is important to work with the NATO
    partners and see how we can work together. Our purpose here is not only to
    teach our way of operation, but we are also interested in the way the Romanian
    army operates and learning their rules so that we may cooperate with each
    other, share experiences, and make the most of these courses.




    Captain Ben Griffiths, the head
    of the BMATT, is for the first time in Romania and told the radio programme ‘Military
    Journal of the Romanian Army’ that the British team comes twice a year and its
    relation with the Romanian ground forces is a good one. We have many lessons
    to learn from our Romanian partners, regarding their way of operating. And this
    strengthens interoperability. This is a real chance to train together so that
    in the future we’ll be able to fight side by side. So, understanding our
    cultures, our behaviours and the structure of the organization is very useful.
    Ben Griffiths went on to say.




    Regarding the social interaction
    between the servicemen, Sergeant Vydlove Cech, associated-instructor with the BMATT,
    has mentioned that being of the Czech nationality he is familiarized with the
    cultural elements and gastronomy in eastern Europe and his colleagues really
    like the good food they have found here, the beautiful culture and cities and
    the wonderful nature.


    In another development the US
    army has completed the works for a 34 million dollar project at the 71 Air Base
    in Campia Turzii, central Romania.


    The project consists of a center
    for air operations, a hangar for planes and a parking platform for the aircraft
    used.


    The projects unfolding in Romania
    are contributing to the training and response capability of the US troops
    stationed in Europe and strengthening the collective defence and security of
    the NATO allies, says Roger Vogler, the head of the engineers department of
    the US army.


    The investment is part of a 100
    million dollar programme the USA has been carrying out in Campia Turzii to
    expand the action range of the US forces in south-eastern Europe, according to
    Stars and Stripes. The US partners started the streamlining works at the 71 Air
    Base in 2021. The funds for this project have been earmarked by means of the
    European Deterrence Initiative the US launched in 2014, after the annexation of
    the Crimean peninsula by Russia.


    (bill)

  • Romania. The Eastern Flank: Exercise “Dacian Lancer 2023”

    Romania. The Eastern Flank: Exercise “Dacian Lancer 2023”

    About 900 soldiers from several countries that have troops deployed in Romania participated in the “Dacian Lancer 2023” exercise that took place between September 11 and 22, at the “Getica” National Joint Training Center in Cincu, Brașov county (the center of Romania). The soldiers involved in the exercise were part of the Multinational Division South-East Command and the Multinational Brigade South-East Command, two NATO command structures located on the territory of Romania.



    Participating in the exercise were also soldiers from the Allied Battle Group in Romania, with France as the framework country, soldiers from the NATO Battle Group in Bulgaria under Italian command, from the Bulgarian 2nd Mechanized Brigade and from the 2nd Mechanized Battalion from Portugal.


    “Dacian Lancer 2023” was a tactical command exercise that was meant to assess the combat capability level of the commands of the Multinational Brigade South-East, of the 300th Support Battalion and the 45th Communications and Informatics Battalion, the last two structures belonging to the Romanian Land Forces. The exercise was planned and led by the Multinational Division South-East Command.



    The deputy commander of this structure, French Brigadier General Loik Girard, told us that “The strength of this exercise is that NATO provides a general framework that everyone knows very well and the participating nations train together and practice their procedures and common language.



    Lieutenant-Colonel Kris Callaerts, an officer of the Canadian Army, stated for the Romanian Armys ‘Jurnal Militar’ Military Journal Radio Network that “It is important to add realism to the exercise in order to give the training audience as faithful a picture as possible of what is happening in the field.”



    For the Italian soldiers of the Allied Battle Group in Bulgaria, the NATO motto “Together we are stronger” is not just a simple motto, but “represents a real commitment to ensuring peace and security where necessary”, said Lt. Giuseppe Napoletano.



    We also inform you that a detachment of the US Air Force in Europe arrived on September 22 in Romania, at the 86th Air Base in Borcea (south-eastern Romania). The contingent consists of 100 military personnel and 4 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The American military will carry out Reinforced Air Policing missions and joint training missions with the Romanian Air Force.



    According to a press release from the Romanian Defense Ministry, the joint air policing and training missions contribute to increasing the reaction and deterrence capacity, as well as to strengthening the interoperability between the Romanian and American Air Forces.



    The US Ambassador to Romania, Kathleen Kavalec, showed a few days ago that the United States is concerned about the security situation in the Black Sea region, in the context generated by the illegal attacks constantly carried out by Russia on Ukraine’s port infrastructure on the Danube. Kavalec also said that the American government remained fully committed to strengthening Romanias and NATOs capabilities to defend and deter any aggression against the allied common territory on the eastern flank.



    And the latest piece of news in today’s program comes from the Combat Training Center in Smârdan, Galați county (eastern Romania), where French and Belgian soldiers from the NATO Battle Group deployed in Romania are involved in joint training together with soldiers from the 15th Mechanized Brigade of the Romanian Land Forces until the end of September. (Adrian Gîtman, tr. LS)