SACEUR Visit in Romania
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, made an official visit to Romania last week
Agenția Media a Armatei, 28.01.2026, 13:38
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, made an official visit to Romania last week. The visit was not a perfunctory one, but one with a clear goal: to consolidate regional security, strengthen the eastern and south-eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance and send a firm message of unity and deterrence, in an increasingly complicated security context in the Black Sea region.
In Bucharest, Gen. Grynkewich spoke about the importance of Romania as an ally and about the meetings he had with the political and military leaders of our country. Romania is an extremely valuable ally, he said, which is why I prioritised this visit at the beginning of 2026. We had very good discussions in Bucharest on important topics for Romania, for the United States and for the Alliance. We also had the opportunity to meet with the President of Romania, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence. For me, these meetings were a true honour, Gen. Grynkewich added.
The visit was not limited to official meetings, but also included direct contacts with the troops in the field. The US official visited the air base at Deveselu (south) and the Joint Training Centre at Cincu, where he spoke with members of NATO structures deployed to Romania and Bulgaria, which strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank. I spoke with soldiers who represent the foundation of our strong alliance, and I am grateful for Romania’s commitments to the Alliance, he also pointed out.
An important element of General Alexus Grynkewich’s visit was related to air defence and new threats, including drones, increasingly present in current conflicts. As he explained, Romania contributes to securing NATO airspace, working together with a unit of fighter jets from Germany and using its own F-16 aircraft. It also began testing the MEROPS anti-drone system, provided by the US, as part of NATO’s efforts to strengthen air defence on the eastern flank.
Finally, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich sent a message that goes beyond numbers and equipment, a message about the unity of the Alliance and its ability to protect people and member states. One of the most important things that NATO has achieved in recent years is the development of solid defensive plans, the US official pointed out. We are ready today, starting tonight, to deter and defend. We will be even more ready tomorrow, thanks to increased spending and the achievement of capability goals. And we will be even more ready in the coming days. Every day, the Alliance becomes stronger and more capable, thanks to the commitments that nations like Romania have made, he also said.
Beyond official statements and agendas, the message of this visit is simple and powerful: Romania matters. It matters as an ally, it matters as a pillar of stability, and it matters as part of an alliance that takes responsibility for protecting its people, borders, and values. On the eastern flank, security is not an abstract concept. It is about the troops on the ground, about the airspace that must be defended, about the infrastructure that must be protected and, ultimately, about the daily safety of each of us. And the message sent from Bucharest, Deveselu, Cincu and Sibiu is clear: Romania is present, it is involved and it is part of a united alliance, which is becoming stronger every day. (AMP)
