The Minister of Defense officially announced the last-minute NATO measures for Romania, decided in the middle of the war in Ukraine, and this because, based on the information provided by Angel Tîlvăr, we are talking about F-16 planes sent to Romania by the Netherlands, at the Center European Training from Fetesti.
The Minister of Defense talks below about what these F-16 planes will do in Romania, and this is because they will be used to train Romanian pilots, as well as Ukrainian pilots, the Netherlands also being alternatively involved in air police missions to protect the space airline of our country.
"I welcome the arrival of three more Dutch F-16 aircraft in Romania, for the European Training Center in Fetești. I was honored to welcome Kajsa Ollongren, the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the airspace of Romania, aboard an F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force. At the 86th Borcea Air Base, I discussed bilateral cooperation with my Dutch counterpart.
Especially within the joint project of the European Training Center for the F-16, a unique capability on the European continent, which offers training options for Romanian pilots, allied countries in the region, but also for Ukraine. The F-16 Center is a nodal point for regional security that will allow us to meet training standards across our allies and partners, thereby contributing to increased cohesion.
Demonstrating unity and strengthening the defense and the ability to deter any aggression for the Euro-Atlantic area. By our presence, as Ministers of Defense, aboard combat aircraft, by experiencing firsthand the execution of such missions, we have honored the courage and determination of the pilots who ensure our freedom, peace and tranquility from the air.
Three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Royal Dutch Air Force, which will be made available to the European F-16 Training Center, are currently landing at the 86th Air Base "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță" from Borcea. The European F-16 Training Center is an international hub for F-16 pilot training and will facilitate increased interoperability between allies.
At the same time, it will contribute to the creation of common operational standards and to strengthening the capacity of the North Atlantic Alliance to face the complex challenges in the Black Sea region and in Eastern Europe. According to the collaboration agreement, the Romanian Ministry of Defense provides the 86th Air Base, the training facilities and support of the host nation, the Royal Netherlands Air Force provides F-16 aircraft, and the Lockheed Martin Company provides the instructors and maintenance."
