Two U.S. conservative periodicals have urged the Trump administration to remove its forces from the Kogălniceanu Base in Romania, arguing that the choice was “undemocratic.”
block Călin Georgescu’s candidacy
And the significant expense associated with the base.
The
first article
Published in The American Conservative, the article entitled “It’s Time to Sever Ties with Romania” is penned by Anthony J. Constantini. In this piece, the author criticizes Romania’s Constitutional Court.
canceling the 2024 presidential elections
and prohibiting Calin Georgescu from participating again. He states this
condemnations issued by U.S. Vice President JD Vance
serve as a positive initial move, yet “the Trump administration should take additional steps by utilizing this chance to clearly state its intention to withdraw troops and support from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.”
Days later,
another article
In an opinion piece published on the conservative platform The National Interest, it was suggested that “reassessing” America’s ties with Romania could serve as a foundational move towards overhauling NATO. Like in the previous article, the writer mentions how far-right pro-Russian contender Calin Georgescu was disqualified from contesting the presidency. Additionally, the author contends that the decisions of the Romanian Constitutional Court were made under the endorsement of the Biden administration.
“Pulling out troops from Romania might unsettle NATO, indeed, yet it would showcase America’s determination and spur Europeans into taking concrete steps toward strategic independence rather than merely discussing it. Such a move could also serve as leverage to motivate Russia to stop combat operations in Ukraine, considering their longstanding concern over NATO forces advancing further east,” writes author Michael Hall.
The two articles could potentially signal a significant change in the relationship between the United States and Romania. During an interview,
HotNews
According to security expert Iulia Joja, the possibility of troop withdrawal from the base by the US remains plausible.
“In just a couple of days, two articles emerged suggesting this might be part of a coordinated effort. Upon closer examination, they share common threads, focusing specifically on the Kogălniceanu base. We could have potentially discussed another location like the one in Deveselu instead,” said Iulia Joja, who teaches at both Georgetown and George Washington Universities.
Furthermore, in each instance, an immediate connection exists between the creator or distributor of the publication and Russia. Dmitri Simes, who previously served as the CEO of the Center for the National Interest, hails from Moscow and reportedly sustains connections to Russia, as reported by U.S. media outlets. The writer behind the piece in The American Conservative, Anthony J. Constantini, pursued his education in Vienna and earned a Master’s degree in arms control and strategic studies from Saint Petersburg State University.
Russia has frequently objected to the presence of the Kogălniceanu base. The decision to withdraw might align with the Trump administration’s approach of extreme accommodation towards Putin.
Joja states that for Russia, having a military base – which happens to be one of NATO’s biggest installations – where troops from Western countries such as America, France, Britain, or Germany could be deployed poses a significant issue.
“The expert emphasized that we should not view these as mere coincidences, particularly considering the connections between certain authors, publishers, and Russian affiliations. Additionally, it is noteworthy how closely aligned the statements made by the Trump administration about the eastern flank, European security, and Ukraine align with Russia’s strategic objectives,” she added. “Given this alignment, Russian intelligence services would logically advocate for policies aimed at hindering NATO expansions, such as the development of the Kogălniceanu military base, using whatever means necessary—even fabricated information,” the analyst concluded.
Shutting down the base would directly contradict this.
earlier statement
According to reports from US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, in February he informed Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu that the military bases in Romania would not only remain but also undergo expansion.
By February 2025, approximately 5,000 foreign troops were stationed in Romania, with just 1,500 being Americans distributed across three main locations: Kogălniceanu, Deveselu, and Câmpia Turzii. Among these sites, Kogălniceanu accommodates the most personnel at roughly 1,000 soldiers. In contrast, Poland hosts around 10,000 U.S. military members within its borders.
radu@romania-insider.com
(Photo credit: Inquam Photos/George Calin)