US forces joint training with Romanian forces.
US and Romanian forces conduct joint exercises near the Black Sea. According to NATO Air Command officials, this strengthens the capacity to react in the event of a possible aggression from Russia, after increased tensions as a result of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
US forces newly deployed to NATO’s eastern border held joint exercises with Romanian units at an air base near the Black Sea on Saturday. Just two days ago, NATO Air Command led a dynamic long-range operation over the skies of Romania, using Romanian F-16s, French Rafale jets and German Tornado jets, joined by fighter group jets of the aircraft carrier “USS Harry S. Truman” of the US Navy, which is deployed in the Adriatic Sea.
Units of the US Army’s 101st Parachute Division took part in combat training, along with formations of helicopters and fighter jets at the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, near the coastal city of Constanta.
In his speech, the mission commander mentioned the history of this well-known division for the sacrifices to preserve the peace that Europe has experienced since 1945, a commitment to which it is adhering again.
“This ceremony, and more importantly our deployment to Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia, represents the United States’ commitment to NATO allies. Each of these countries served alongside the United States in Afghanistan, and we are honored to serve alongside them today,” said US division commander Maj. Gen. Joseph McGee.
Units of the 101st Division arrived in Romania at the end of June, part of a mission aimed at increasing NATO’s military presence in the region, to reassure allies and deter further aggression from Russia, the website said. of the US Army in Europe.
“I want to finish by noting that we are only 318 kilometers from the fierce war that is taking place today in Kherson, Ukraine. So, deployed in Romania, we are the most forward-looking units of the United States military,” said General McGee.
The United States and other NATO member countries have increased forces deployed to NATO’s eastern flank in response to the increase in Russian forces along Ukraine’s borders and the offensive that began in February.