Construction Begins on Largest NATO Base in Europe in Romania, Costing €2.5B

Construction has commenced on what is set to be the largest NATO base in Europe, situated in Romania, with a construction cost of €2.5 billion.

This was first reported by Euronews.

The project will see the expansion of the Romanian Air Force's 57th Air Base Mihail Kogălniceanu, encompassing an expansive area of 2,800 hectares with a perimeter spanning 30 kilometers. Once completed, the base is slated to accommodate approximately 10,000 NATO troops along with their families.

Equipped with essential infrastructure, the base in Constanța County is poised to include runways, aircraft hangars, storage and deployment facilities for weapons, fuel, and lubricants, as well as training equipment, schools, kindergartens, shops, and a hospital.

Ukraine and NATO are poised to establish the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Centre (JATEC) in the Polish city of Bydgoszcz. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the significance of this joint venture, noting its importance for both Ukraine and the alliance as a whole. Although details regarding the center's operations remain undisclosed, Stoltenberg highlighted its role in facilitating the exchange of experiences among member states.

Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of the North Atlantic Alliance. The application for NATO membership was initiated by Sweden in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with most member states swiftly ratifying its accession. Challenges in obtaining ratification from two countries, Turkey and Hungary, were eventually overcome, with Ankara altering its stance after negotiations on its accession to the EU and the easing of U.S. sanctions on military technology sales.

The expansion of NATO has seen Finland also joining the alliance, officially becoming the 31st member on April 4, 2023. Finland cited security concerns, particularly due to its extensive border with Russia spanning over 1,300 kilometers, as a key factor in its decision to join NATO. With Finland's accession, the length of NATO member countries' border with Russia has more than doubled, previously standing at 1215 kilometers.