Strategic Airlift Mission in Support of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

A C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft departed on Thursday, July 2, at approximately 11:30 a.m. from the 90th Airlift Base "Commander Aviator Gheorghe Bănciulescu" in Otopeni to transport humanitarian assistance to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the Yaracuy region on June 24, 2026.

Following a formal Request for Assistance (RFA) issued by the Venezuelan authorities, the European Commission activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), employing national airlift assets provided by participating states to support the affected population. Romania’s contribution to this humanitarian assistance was authorized by Decision No. 11, dated June 29, 2026, issued by the National Committee for Emergency Situations upon the endorsement of the Department for Emergency Situations.

The aircraft is operated under the framework of the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) program, carrying a payload consisting of Class II (quartermaster materiel) and Class VIII (medical supplies) assets, tailored to support the affected population.

Through this mission, the Ministry of National Defense leverages Romania’s operational shares within the Strategic Airlift Capability program, projecting the Romanian state’s international humanitarian assistance capabilities and reaffirming its commitment to deliver emergency response alongside national and allied partners in disaster-affected areas.

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The Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) is a multinational initiative in which Romania participates alongside 11 other nations, providing member states with guaranteed access to a military airlift capability designed to meet the growing demands for strategic and tactical airlift.

 Established in 2008, SAC is an independent multinational program that provides its 12 participating nations with the capability to transport personnel, equipment, and materiel over long distances by owning and operating three Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft. The program operates out of the Hungarian Defence Forces Pápa Air Base, located in western Hungary.

 Romania holds, similar to other participating nations, a specific quota of the total available flight hours allocated to the SAC C-17 aircraft. These hours can be utilized to execute missions in support of national defense, commitments assumed within NATO, the European Union, and the United Nations, as well as for humanitarian assistance and emergency response operations.

The Press Office