Canada to send F-18 Hornet jets to Romania next year

Canada plans to send frigates to the Black Sea and F-18 Hornet fighter jets to Romania in 2017, which will participate in air police missions, reports local Hotnews.ro. Such aircraft were previously stationed at the airbase in Campia Turzii in 2014 and the Mihail Kogalniceanu base in 2016. Moreover, Canada has already decided to contribute with general staff personnel to the NATO multinational brigade to be set up in Craiova, Romania. The Romanian minister of defense Mihnea Motoc had a bilateral meeting with the Canadian counterpart Harjit Singh Sajjan on Wednesday, October 26, in the context of the meetings of NATO defense ministers. “The Romanian minister of national defense expressed appreciation for Canada's solidarity and commitment in strengthening NATO's deterrence ability in the eastern flank, mentioning the consistent presence of Canadian Forces in the exercises organized on our country’s territory and in the Black Sea region, on all three operational dimensions - air, land, and sea,” reads a statement from the Romanian Ministry of Defense. The Canadian minister “highlighted the recent decision to contribute with general staff personnel to the effort of operationalizing the multinational brigade in Craiova, also mentioning Canada's intentions to continue deploying detachments of F-18 fighter jets and frigates to Romania and the Black Sea.” The UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon announced on Wednesday, October 26, that the British Royal Air Force (RAF) would send Typhoon fighter jets to Romania in 2017. The aircraft will be stationed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in southeast Romania for up to four months and will also take part in air police missions. US will also deploy an armored battalion in Romania in early 2017, part of its commitment to increase military presence in Eastern Europe. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com (Photo source: rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca)