DefMin: Robust U.S. military presence in Romania enhances security along entire eastern flank

 A robust presence of U.S. troops in Romania increases the security level of NATO's entire eastern flank, Defense Minister Angel Tilvar said on Friday during a meeting with former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis, held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.According to a release from the National Defense Ministry, Angel Tilvar reiterated the importance of maintaining a permanent U.S. military presence in Romania, complementary to NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities, and also emphasized the significant contribution to strengthening the Strategic Partnership with the United States, of the deployment of forces of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division to the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in early March 2023, concomitantly with the return home of the troops of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).In this context, Tilvar said that the National Defense Ministry pays special attention to the modernization programs for the bases were Allied and U.S. troops are deployed, mentioning the modernization project of the Mihail Kogalniceanu 57th Air Base, which covers air infrastructure - including runways, administrative and social facilities, storage areas, as well as aircraft maintenance, and which is carried out in collaboration with the U.S. 101st Airborne Brigade, but also the ongoing projects for the expansion of the 'Gen. Emanoil Ionescu' 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii, which are key to increasing synergy and interoperability between Romanian and American troops.An important point on the agenda of discussions was the importance of continuing to provide security assistance to Ukraine, amid the Russian Federation's war of aggression. "Romania will continue to support Ukraine both bilaterally, in coordination with other allied states, and within the European Union," the Romanian official said.The strategic importance of the Black Sea region for Euro-Atlantic security was also tackled, with the idea reiterated that the increased attention of the U.S. political and military leadership towards the region is a welcome process for increasing American commitment, following the shaping the U.S. Black Sea Strategy.