Romania is gearing up to establish the largest NATO base in Europe, positioned just 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border and directly on the Black Sea, an area Russia claims dominion over, reports NTV Germany and Cairo News.
Bucharest plans to transform the “Mihail Kogalniceanu” airport into this major NATO hub, expected to house 10,000 military personnel, including army, air force, and naval forces within a few years.
NATO aims to bolster its eastern defensive wing in Romania, recognizing the site’s strategic importance due to its proximity to Ukraine and the Black Sea, just 15 kilometres away.
This region has garnered increasing attention from the alliance, especially following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Over the next two decades, significant expansions are planned for the Mihail airport. These developments include the construction of additional runways for fighter and large aircraft, ammunition and fuel depots, and high-tech storage areas to meet NATO standards.
Additionally, a new military city is slated for development on the outskirts of Constanța, Romania.
The expansion, expected to span 20 years and cost approximately 2.5 billion euros, will also support NATO soldiers’ families with the construction of schools, kindergartens, shops, and hospitals.
Currently, 70,000 NATO troops are stationed in Romania. The German military has also deployed Eurofighter aircraft to the base for air space surveillance on its eastern side, preparing for potential emergencies.
Recent events have highlighted the precarious situation in the Black Sea region. In September 2022, a Russian fighter jet launched a missile at a British reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea.
The missile did not hit the reconnaissance aircraft, which approximately 30 people manned.
Moscow later stated that the missile was accidentally fired due to a technical error, and it appears that the Russian fighter pilot misinterpreted an ambiguous message from ground control, resulting in the intentional missile launch.
