Romania Allows U.S. To Use Constanta Airport, Harbor For Transit

05.03.2011 By Gavrila Oana

Romania’s highest defense body CSAT has allowed the USA to use the Mihail Kogalniceanu airport and Constanta harbor in southeastern Romania as transit points for the transport of troops and arms to and from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The U.S. will also be allowed to temporarily station four cistern planes and four C17 transport planes on the Mihail Kogalniceanu airport, as one of the U.S.'s bases in the Mediterranean is undergoing modernization.

"This is temporary but the transit issue is for the long term," Basescu told a news conference.

Romania's Supreme Defense Council convened Monday evening and also established the location for elements of the U.S. antimissile shield to be hosted on Romanian territory.

The head of state said he would inform the Parliament of the defense body's decisions Tuesday.