Defence Minister’s visit to the 57th Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base

Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvăr, and the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, visited the 57th "Căpitan Aviator Constantin Cantacuzino" Air Base, in Mihail Kogălniceanu, on Tuesday, December 10th. The Chief of Air Force Staff, Lieutenant General Leonard Baraboi, also attended the activity.

 

The two officials met with a delegation made up of NATO member countries’ defence attachés accredited to Bucharest, who were on an information visit to the 57th Air Base.

 

During the talks, Angel Tîlvăr expressed his appreciation for the high level of collaboration between the NATO allies and Romania, which represents a concrete proof of solidarity and soundness of the Alliance's founding purpose, that of providing for the defence of each state in the Euro-Atlantic space and deterring any aggression against the allied territory. 

 

"I have repeatedly met with the allied countries’ military attachés from accredited to Bucharest, either in a bilateral format or within allied framework, and I am glad to have the opportunity to meet you here, in the most important military base established on the eastern flank of NATO. I thank, through you, to each of the countries you honorably represent for their essential contributions to the strengthening of the defence on the Romanian sector of the eastern flank of the Alliance. I felt the need to convey to all our allies that Romania remains firmly committed to the undertaken Euro-Atlantic path, that the Romanian people’s option to join the common space that values ​​peace, democracy and freedom remains sound, as does the decision to contribute to strengthening security in the region", Minister Angel Tîlvăr said in the meeting with the military attachés.

 

Also, the officials met with the representatives of the leadership of the 57th Air Base and the contingents of allied soldiers deployed to Mihail Kogălniceanu.

 

Commander Nicolae Crețu, commander of the 57th Air Base, presented the status of the ongoing infrastructure projects at Mihail Kogălniceanu. The construction works executed within the first stage of infrastructure expansion are on schedule and conducted in a sustained pace. The official delegation visited the construction site to learn from the ground about the progresses made, focusing, in particular, on the operational capabilities - the construction of the new runway of the airbase, as well as on the related support infrastructure.

 

Angel Tîlvăr and Ambassador Kavalec also met with the Romanian, Spanish, American and French military personnel who conduct their activity at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base.

 

Minister of National Defence thanked everyone for the way they conduct their missions jointly, as a result of a partnership whose level of trust is the foundation of ties and mutual trust among the NATO member countries.

 

“You conduct your activity in an increasingly challenging security environment, and you do so with a sense of duty and a commitment to the important responsibilities entrusted to you. I express my full gratitude and respect for your contribution to strengthening Romania's security and defence. I am sending from the allied military base closest to the war zone, a war launched by the Russian Federation, a message of confidence to all citizens of our country and allied countries. Our armed forces have the ability to guarantee a normal, peaceful and undisturbed life for all those who live in the common allied space", Minister Angel Tîlvăr stated.

 

Minister of National Defence also sent good thoughts to the military personnel and their families on the occasion of the upcoming winter holidays.

 

"The approaching holidays will find you - the allied soldiers deployed to our country, as well as the Romanian soldiers assigned on equally complex missions abroad, far from your home and families. I send to your loved ones, who have an important role in ensuring the success of the missions you have undertaken, all the good health and peace on the occasion of the holidays", Angel Tîlvăr said.

The Press Office