The U.S. Air Force on Monday flew in two F-22 Raptor fighter jets to Romania as a show of strength to deter Russian intervention in Ukraine.
The fighter jets landed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, near the Black Sea port of Constanta in southeast Romania. A U.S. statement says they possess sophisticated sensors allowing the pilot to track, identify, shoot and kill air-to-air threats before being detected. The fighters also have a significant capability to attack surface targets.
Russia-backed separatists have been fighting government troops in Ukraine since April 2014, leaving at least 9,100 dead. The conflict has left many neighboring countries in Central and Eastern Europe jittery about Russia’s intentions in the region.
U.S. Ambassador Hans G. Klemm said the U.S. and Romania, a NATO member since 2004 that has a population of 19 million, were seeking to improve “the defense of Europe, the defense of the North-Atlantic Alliance, to improve the security in South Eastern-Europe … as a result of the aggression by Russia that has brought so much instability to this part of the world over the past two to three years.”
Romanian Air Force chief of staff Maj. Gen. Laurian Anastasof voiced concerns about Russia’s presence in the region. He said that if a Russian plane took off from an air base in Crimea and went 100 kilometers (62 miles) beyond Crimea’s borders “that can trigger worries of the (NATO) alliance.”
Anastasof said that if an unidentified aircraft comes within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of Romania’s airspace, NATO’S procedure “obliges us to scramble planes up in the air, a scenario that had already happened four times this year.” He said no Russian plane had come close to Romania’s airspace.
The U.S. fighter jets, which arrived from Britain, will leave Romania later Monday. They are part of the Operation Atlantic Resolve, a U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective security and regional stability.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Hey, Mr. Obama, quit trying to play chicken. Especially when you’ll turn tail and run when crap happens. Just shut up and wait until the next US President takes office. I don’t trust you, and the majority of our US Military don’t have faith in you either. Just take a vacation until November, and shut up!!!
Agree but don’t vote Hi-liar-y in because she is smarter than Obama but far more dangerous to the American people.
Don’t vote her to the Presidency. She’ll be moving Fort Knox and all its contents to the Clinton Foundation and not pay any attention to Americas’ business just like she did as Secretary Of State.
How much gold is in Fort Knox? Probably a lot less than there’s supposed to be. Ron Paul wanted to do an audit, but he was denied. I wonder why?
Russian aircraft “buzzing” dangerously close to our warships, “buzzing” our troops in Europe is “crusing for a brusing” if they keep that up. But then, that is Putins’ way to start World War III because he thinks he can win and put America in the same position as Britain, helpless to do anything about it thanks to O’Bama.
What are you Smoking? Our government has tried to start WW3 , 3 times now. Each time stopped by Mr. Putin. Now our ships invade Russian territorial water & China territorial waters to provoke Russia & China into WW3. And we now support muslum terrorist in Syria. Americans can no longer trust our Police State Controlled Lame Stream Media. And every word coming out of the U.S. state dept. Propaganda Blow Horn is Pure B.S.. The Global Central Bankers want to take us to war so they can blame the U.S. Dollar collapse on however we are at war with. It is all smoke & mirrors. And the American SHEEPLE drink their coolaide and continue to BE PLAYED LIKE A CHEAP FIDDLE & 2 BIT WHORES.
It is not Russia that has 600 installations around the earth, nor is Russia sponsoring ISIS/ISIL. CIA “black budget” dollars and Saudi oil dollars are funding ISIS/ISIL, while the Israeli army commands ISIS/ISIL. Russia is simply defending its territory from direct assault. It is the US CIA/Israeli MOSSAD that caused the breakup in Ukraine, and Biden who currently wants his son to administer the Russian gas program in the Ukraine. For details see veteranstoday.com
F.O. drbhelthi , your a commy.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, much of what you say is true. I don’t know the truth about all of this, but I am very worried. We’re being led by some of the worst possible people. Don’t know how we’ll survive. Too bad for our children/grandchildren.
From America’s weak leadership over the last 7 years. Several countries have shown their true intentions and hatred for the United States. America is at a tipping point globally, what we do as a nation ” this year” will affect our country for decades to come. Think hard, long, and with a heavy, but hopeful heart. Pray. For no one in this decade will go unscathed if the right choice is not chosen.