Romanias President Klaus Iohannis (2-R) visits the Mihail Kogalniceanu military airport, 250 east of Bucharest, June 13, 2017. Archive photo: EPA/Bogdan Cristel

Hours after Washington announced on Wednesday that 11,900 US troops in Germany would be redeployed to reinforce NATOs southeastern flank, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis expressed appreciation for the move and reaffirmed that US troops are always welcome in Romania.

Speaking on Wednesday, Iohannis deemed the US decision very important for Romania, and recalled that he and the Bucharest government had long been stressing the need of [deploying] more troops in the Black Sea zone.

If this happens, we are very satisfied, said Iohannis, who added that the details of a potential redeployment to US troops to Romania would be discussed at NATO level.

Romania is one of the staunchest allies of the US in Europe. Bucharest already hosts a military NATO airbase with an American presence by the Black Sea as well as a missile shield base.

Particularly after the Russian annexation of the Crimea in 2014, the Black Sea region has become a place of mounting tension between Russia, which has deployed more military capabilities in the area, and the US and NATO.

As a firmly pro-Western country and NATO member since 2004, Romania is a cornerstone of the US architecture of deterrence of Russia in the region. In response to Moscows growing activity and presence in the Black Sea, Bucharest has boosted its own military investment in recent years.

Romanias National Defence Strategy for 2020-2024 mentions Russias aggressive behaviour in the region as one of the major strategic threats facing the country.

The new strategy was adopted last month by the Romanian parliament. In a clear reference to the US, Russia has accused Bucharest of being subservient to third parties and their agendas at the expense of its own interest.

The US restructuring of its presence in Europe was outlined on Wednesday by Washingtons Secretary of Defence, Mark Esper.

Approximately 11,900 military personnel will be repositioned from Germany, with nearly 5,600 repositioned within other NATO countries and 6,400 returning to the United States to address readiness and prepare for rotational deployments, the US Department of Defense explained.

The plan will consolidate headquarters to strengthen operational efficiency to focus on readiness, and place rotational forces in the Black Sea region on NATOs southeastern flank, it added.

This makes Romania a prime candidate to host, on a permanent or rotational basis, part of the US troops being moved from Germany.

The reshaping of US defence architecture in Europe serves the purpose of enhancing deterrence of Russia as its first priority, Esper highlighted.

By strengthening military capabilities in the Black Sea, the US seeks to prevent further Russian aggression against NATO allies in the region.

The US plans to invest 130 million dollars in turning the old airbase of Campia Turzii, in central Romania, into a hub of the US Airforce operations in southeastern Europe from which more fighter planes rotations can be conducted.

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