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- Village on Ukraine’s doorstep set to become NATO’s biggest European airbase as Putin vows to go ‘to the end’ in the war (newsbreak.com)
At Romania’s Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase, located merely about 12 miles off the Black Sea coastline and 180 miles from Odesa, Ukraine, an announcement has come that will see it transforming into the most significant NATO base in Europe. This development arrives as NATO intends to enhance its presence in Europe, with a budget of $2.7 billion aimed at expanding the base to accommodate around 10,000 personnel and their relatives.
The base, already utilized by the United States military since 1999, will soon be equipped with the necessary infrastructure to support such a notable expansion. Commander Nicolae Crețu of the air base highlighted the upcoming inclusion of maintenance hangars, fuel storage, ammunition depots, and accommodation among other necessities to aid the base’s operational capabilities.
Furthermore, the airbase is expecting an addition to its fleet with Romanian F-16 jets purchased from Norway and MQ-9 Reaper drones. Adding to the international military collaboration, NATO disclosed that Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet jets landed at the base on June 3, aiming to partake in both training exercises and operational missions along the eastern Black Sea.
Royal Air Force pilot, Flt Lt Charlie Tagg, noted an uptick in the base’s activity with the introduction of more infrastructure, personnel, and equipment. Meanwhile, geopolitical analysts anticipate the base’s upgrade to significantly bolster NATO’s strategic positioning in proximity to the ongoing conflict in southern Ukraine.
Russian authorities, however, have expressed severe concerns regarding the base’s expansion. Comments from Russian political figures suggest that the project poses a potential threat to the region, with some cautioning against what they perceive as NATO’s encroachment.
Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warnings against NATO’s eastward expansion, citing it as a reason for his aggressive foreign policy stances, the alliance has welcomed new members like Finland and Sweden in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Putin has reiterated his resolve regarding Ukraine, suggesting that any defeat there could mean the collapse of Russia’s historical statehood, thus emphasizing his commitment to continue the conflict.
*Note: The original article was featured on Business Insider.*