Romania’s Defense Council to Consider US Military Base Access for Iran Operations

Romanian President Nicusor Dan has called a meeting of the country's top defense council to evaluate a U.S. request for access to Romanian military facilities. The Wednesday session will address Middle East security concerns and potential temporary U.S. military deployments at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base.

BUCHAREST – Romania’s President Nicusor Dan has scheduled a meeting of the nation’s highest defense council for Wednesday to evaluate an American request for military base access related to operations involving Iran, according to political sources.

The defense council will convene for its first session of the year to examine security consequences stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts, effects on Romania’s energy sector, and “the temporary deployment of military capability on Romanian territory.”

Political sources indicated that this deployment reference relates to an American request for access to the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, though they provided no additional details.

Several European Union nations have responded differently to regional tensions – countries like France, Greece and Italy have deployed naval vessels to Cyprus following attacks by Iranian-manufactured drones on a British installation there, while other nations permit military base usage.

Approximately 1,000 American service members continue to be stationed in Romania. Last year, the United States pulled roughly 1,000 troops from Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu air base as America shifted focus toward its domestic borders and Indo-Pacific operations.

NATO maintains a permanent allied force of about 3,500 troops in Romania, which includes American soldiers.

Most European Union leadership has denounced Iranian attacks throughout the region and called for cessation of hostilities along with diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.

Romania maintains a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine, and Russian drones have crossed this boundary while targeting Kyiv. Additionally, naval mines from the conflict in the Black Sea continue to disrupt crucial commercial and energy shipping lanes.