NATO has heightened security at its Geilenkirchen Air Base in western Germany following intelligence reports of a potential threat, the alliance stated late Thursday evening.
As a precautionary measure, all non-essential personnel were sent home, although NATO assured that operations would continue as planned.
Geilenkirchen Air Base, located near the Dutch border, houses NATO’s fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.
German media reported police cars deployed across the base, though no further details were provided.
Last week, another major German airbase near Cologne was shut down for hours due to concerns that its water supply might have been tampered with, although investigations found no evidence of sabotage.
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.
