Romania and NATO

A member since 2004, Romania is consolidating its relationship with the North Atlantic Alliance

Daniela Budu, 26.04.2016, 14:00

Two American F-22 Raptor fighter jets, considered the most
advanced in the world and invincible in air-to-air attack missions, have landed
at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base close to the city of Constanta, in South-
Eastern Romania, for the first time in South-Eastern Europe, as part of the
Operation Atlantic Resolve. The operation was drawn up by the USA after the
conflict had broken out in Ukraine in 2014, with a view to protecting the
states on NATO’s Eastern flank. F22 Raptor aircraft are fifth-generation,
all-weather stealth aircraft, with a speed that can reach two times the speed
of sound.

Such an aircraft costs 143 million dollars, has a range of 3,000 km
and the capacity of fighting even anti-aircraft defense systems. The Chief of
the Romanian Air Force Staff, general Laurian Anastasof has stated that the
presence of the two aircraft in Romania is proof of the USA’s solidarity with
Romania, which lies in the vicinity of Russia. According to him, there have
been situations when Romanian pilots had to make an emergency landing because
of flights performed by Russian aircraft. Laurian Anastasof:

Laurian Anastasof: There were situations when Russian flights were reported close to the
national air space. As a rule, such flights are reported along distances of
over 100 km. If a Russian aircraft takes off from a base in Crimea and exceeds
100 km from the coast of Crimea, it can be a matter of concern for the
Alliance. NATO’s procedure forces us to have our aircraft take off. This year,
that has happed four times. Let me point out once again: no Russian aircraft
has come close to the national air space.

On a visit to Bucharest, where he met president
Klaus Iohannis and Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc, the NATO deputy secretary
general Alexander Vershbow commended Romania’s active role within the Alliance,
pinpointing the significant participation of the Romanian armed forces in the
efforts to prevent and combat security risks and challenges. Alexander Vershbow
said that boosting the defense and deterrence posture against all threats the
Alliance faces was highly important. He said that he had agreed with the
Romanian Defense Minister that there was a need for a 360 degree approach,
because they had many challenges and threats to face, both on the Eastern
flank, where Russia was attempting to change some of the existing borders and
on the Southern flank, where they were faced with extremism and terrorism
issues.

On Monday when the two American F-22 Raptor fighter jets landed in
Romania, US president Barrack Obama insisted in Hanover on the need for NATO to
support its front-line allies, namely Poland, Romania, and the Baltic
countries, which are the most exposed to tensions from Russia.