Romania allows 'defensive' US refuelling, monitoring for Iran operations at its air bases

BUCHAREST, March 11 (Reuters) - Romania will host U.S. refuelling planes, surveillance and satellite communications gear for its Tehran operations, President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday, adding the equipment was "defensive" and carries no munitions.

Dan had earlier convened the EU and NATO state's top defence council, which approved the American request. Parliament voted to approve the measure as well, despite criticism from the far-right opposition who criticised the plan despite being self-avowed supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Romania, a staunch Washington ally, is home to a U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system, deployed a decade ago in the town of Deveselu to counter potential threats to NATO allies. It was updated after Russia invaded Ukraine.

"We are talking about refuelling planes, some monitoring equipment and some satellite communications equipment in correlation with the Deveselu shield," Dan said.

"This equipment is defensive, it does not carry actual ammunition. To the extent that parliament approves ... it will be deployed to Romania in line with the U.S.-Romanian partnership."

SOME 1,000 US TROOPS REMAIN IN ROMANIA

While some EU countries -- such as France, Greece and Italy -- have sent warships to Cyprus after Iranian-made drones struck a British base on the island, others allow use of their military bases.

Most EU top officials have condemned Iranian strikes in the region and urged an end and a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

The U.S. withdrew about 1,000 troops from Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu air base last year, as the U.S. focused on its own borders and the Indo-Pacific region. Another 1,000 U.S. troops remain in Romania.

The permanent allied presence in Romania stands at around 3,500 NATO troops, including U.S. soldiers.

Romania shares a 650 km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine, over which Russian drones have flown towards Ukrainian port infrastructure, while mines in the Black Sea from the conflict impact key trade and energy routes.