\n
\n<\/p>\n
Two American F-22 Raptor fighter jets, considered the most
\nadvanced in the world and invincible in air-to-air attack missions, have landed
\nat the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base close to the city of Constanta, in South-
\nEastern Romania, for the first time in South-Eastern Europe, as part of the
\nOperation Atlantic Resolve. The operation was drawn up by the USA after the
\nconflict had broken out in Ukraine in 2014, with a view to protecting the
\nstates on NATO’s Eastern flank. F22 Raptor aircraft are fifth-generation,
\nall-weather stealth aircraft, with a speed that can reach two times the speed
\nof sound. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Such an aircraft costs 143 million dollars, has a range of 3,000 km
\nand the capacity of fighting even anti-aircraft defense systems. The Chief of
\nthe Romanian Air Force Staff, general Laurian Anastasof has stated that the
\npresence of the two aircraft in Romania is proof of the USA’s solidarity with
\nRomania, which lies in the vicinity of Russia. According to him, there have
\nbeen situations when Romanian pilots had to make an emergency landing because
\nof flights performed by Russian aircraft. Laurian Anastasof:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Laurian Anastasof: There were situations when Russian flights were reported close to the
\nnational air space. As a rule, such flights are reported along distances of
\nover 100 km. If a Russian aircraft takes off from a base in Crimea and exceeds
\n100 km from the coast of Crimea, it can be a matter of concern for the
\nAlliance. NATO’s procedure forces us to have our aircraft take off. This year,
\nthat has happed four times. Let me point out once again: no Russian aircraft
\nhas come close to the national air space.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
On a visit to Bucharest, where he met president
\nKlaus Iohannis and Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc, the NATO deputy secretary
\ngeneral Alexander Vershbow commended Romania’s active role within the Alliance,
\npinpointing the significant participation of the Romanian armed forces in the
\nefforts to prevent and combat security risks and challenges. Alexander Vershbow
\nsaid that boosting the defense and deterrence posture against all threats the
\nAlliance faces was highly important. He said that he had agreed with the
\nRomanian Defense Minister that there was a need for a 360 degree approach,
\nbecause they had many challenges and threats to face, both on the Eastern
\nflank, where Russia was attempting to change some of the existing borders and
\non the Southern flank, where they were faced with extremism and terrorism
\nissues. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On Monday when the two American F-22 Raptor fighter jets landed in
\nRomania, US president Barrack Obama insisted in Hanover on the need for NATO to
\nsupport its front-line allies, namely Poland, Romania, and the Baltic
\ncountries, which are the most exposed to tensions from Russia.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A member since 2004, Romania is consolidating its relationship with the North Atlantic Alliance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":68362,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-57808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n