Romania and the Kingdom of the Netherlands decided to continue efforts so that the European F-16 Training Centre remains operational in Romania on a permanent basis

Minister of National Defence, Liviu-Ionuț Moșteanu, had a bilateral meeting on June 25th with his counterpart from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ruben Brekelmans, as part of the NATO Summit held in The Hague.

The talks focused on the further development of the European F-16 Training Center in Romania – a strategic facility that substantially contributes to consolidating the air defence training of Romania, as well as of its NATO allies and partners.

"The European F-16 Training Center is a concrete and valuable result of the bilateral cooperation between Romania and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with the essential support of American partners of Lockheed Martin. The Center represents a unique advanced training platform in Europe, which offers the Romanian, Ukrainian and other allied and partner pilots access to the highest training programs, in accordance with the NATO standards," the Minister of National Defense declared.

At the end of the meeting, the two ministers signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the expansion of the capabilities of the European F-16 Training Center in Romania. The document reflects the joint commitment to continue the further development of this facility by establishing the necessary framework for the transfer of ownership of the 18 F-16 aircraft from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Romania.

This initiative highlights the firm will of the two states to actively support the consolidation of the training capabilities of the of NATO allied and partner states’ air forces, thus contributing to maintaining an enduring and predictable security climate in the Black Sea region.

The Press Office