Romania to Build NATO’s Largest Base in Europe

Romania is set to construct NATO’s largest military base in Europe, strategically located just 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and directly on the Black Sea, a region over which Russia claims control.

According to German news outlet "NTV," this ambitious project reflects NATO's efforts to fortify its eastern flank amid escalating tensions in the region.

The plan involves transforming the Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport into the alliance’s largest European base, expected to host up to 10,000 military personnel from the army, air force, and navy within the next few years.

This base's proximity to Ukraine and the Black Sea, just 15 kilometers away, underscores its strategic importance as NATO shifts focus to its eastern defenses, especially in light of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Over the next two decades, the Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport will undergo significant expansion, including the construction of additional runways to accommodate fighter jets and large military aircraft, as well as the development of ammunition depots, fuel storage, and technology facilities in line with NATO standards.

Additionally, a separate military city will be built on the outskirts of Constanța, Romania, to support this expansion.

The project, estimated to take up to 20 years and cost 2.5 billion euros, will include infrastructure for NATO soldiers' families, such as schools, kindergartens, stores, and hospitals.

Currently, 70,000 NATO troops are stationed in Romania, with the German military deploying Eurofighter jets to the airbase to monitor the airspace along the alliance’s eastern edge and conduct emergency readiness drills.

Recent events in the Black Sea highlight the region's volatile nature. In September 2022, a Russian fighter jet fired a missile at a British reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea. Fortunately, the missile missed its target, which was carrying a crew of about 30 people.

Moscow later claimed that the missile was launched due to a technical malfunction, suggesting the Russian pilot misinterpreted an ambiguous message from ground control, leading to the intentional launch.