Romania wants more NATO troops locally, even permanent base: “Russian threat is a reality, and we need support”

Romania wants and needs more American troops stationed locally, as the country covers the Eastern NATO border, said Foreign Affairs Minister Titus Corlatean. Romanian authorities even hope the Alliance will create a permanent military base in Romania. “We are the first country in which the missile defense system will be deployed. In 2015, the system be operational [in Romania]. We are interested in having a strong political, military, and economic presence of the United States in Romania,” said Corlatean in an interview for Washington Post. The message increased the level of interest in Washington, the Romanian Minister added, reinforcing that the Russian threat is a reality, and that Romania needs support. American troops are currently stationed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu military base in the Dobrogea region, close to the Black Sea shore. The minister also underlined the need to increase defense expenditures, as well as Romania’s willingness to share the burden of these expenses. “Our target is to reach by 2016 2 percent of GDP allocated to the defense budget. We encourage other European allies to do the same.” All these while the US rediscovered the geo-strategic importance of Eastern Europe, after previously focusing on the Asia – Pacific region. The full interview in Washington Post here. Corlatean met US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington earlier this week during a conference in Washington organized by the Atlantic Council of the United States. According to a release from Romania’s Foreign Ministry, they discussed the developing situation in Ukraine. editor@romania-insider.com