Aegis Ashore Romania: Supporting European Missile Defense for 5 Years and Counting
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NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY DEVESELU, Romania
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NAVAL SUPPORT FACILITY DEVESELU, Romania (Aug. 9, 2019) Dark clouds gather before a summer rain storm over the U.S. Navy base in Romania, home to NATO's Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense System (AABMDS) site, after completing a long-planned systems update, Aug. 9, 2019. During the maintenance period, the U.S. fulfilled its commitment to NATO's Ballistic Missile Defense(BMD) by the temporary deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to the Naval Support Facility in Deveselu, Romania. The deployment of the U.S. Army’s THAAD battery to Romania lasted about six weeks while Aegis Ashore software and other equipment was updated. In April, the task force deployed to NSFD where they integrated into the existing NATO BMD architecture during a period of routine maintenance and upgrade of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System located there. The THAAD system re-deployed back to the U.S. and NATO's Aegis Ashore has resumed full functionality and remains focused on potential threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic area. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Amy Forsythe/Released)
Photo by: U.S. European Command Public Affairs
After five years of operation, Aegis Ashore Romania continues to serve as a key part of the NATO ballistic missile defense architecture and the protection of the people of Europe.
“Aegis Ashore Romania is designed to protect European NATO Allies and U.S. deployed forces in the region against the growing threat posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles outside the Euro-Atlantic area,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Charles Miller, USEUCOM’s director of plans, policy, strategy and capabilities. “This site provides a defensive capability to deter future conflicts and to defend against aggression should deterrence fail.”
On Sept. 13, 2011, the U.S. and Romania signed the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement, creating the legal basis for Romania to host the Aegis Ashore missile defense system on its territory. Five years later, on May 12, 2016, the Aegis Ashore missile defense site in Deveselu was declared operational under NATO's Ballistic Missile Defense System.
“Designed as an entirely defensive system, Aegis Ashore represents a security guarantee for the Alliance,” said Simona Cojocaru, Romanian State Secretary and Chief of the Department for Defense Policy, Planning and International Relations “This occasion offers me the opportunity to reiterate Romania's full commitment to support United States forces presence on its territory and to emphasize the value of the bilateral strategic partnership and the Aegis Ashore missile defense system for NATO and transatlantic security."
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About USEUCOM
U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean. USEUCOM is comprised of more than 64,000 military and civilian personnel and works closely with NATO Allies and partners. The command is one of two U.S. forward-deployed geographic combatant commands headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. For more information about USEUCOM, visit https://www.eucom.mil.
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