Infrastructure
Europe’s Largest NATO Base Underway in Romania
The facility is expected to host 10,000 soldiers and civilians by 2030.
Construction of NATO’s largest military base in Europe is underway in Romania, as the alliance seeks to strengthen its capabilities in the Black Sea region, with a focus on monitoring Russian activities in the area.
The $2.7 billion project involves expanding the Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base Mihail Kogălniceanu, which is located near the Black Sea port city of Constanța.
Sitting on 3,000 hectares, the facility will become Europe’s largest NATO military base, surpassing the 2,000-hectare US military base in Ramstein, Germany.
The upgraded base will bolster Romania’s standing in NATO’s security framework and strengthen its influence in the Black Sea, a region largely controlled by Russia.
By 2030, the base will have the capacity to host 10,000 soldiers and civilians.
“Social housing will be built for individual personnel or families. There will be block-type housing, individual housing, schools, pharmacies, everything that is needed,” Nicolae Cretu, the commander of Mihail Kogalniceanu, said.
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In an interview with the Romanian state broadcaster, Cret revealed plans for the construction of a new runway, links between the two existing runways, taxiways for aircraft, and the installation of anti-aircraft protection systems.
Work is underway on access roads and a high-capacity electrical network, with the upgraded Mihail Kogălniceanu expected to be fully operational in 2040.
Geopolitical expert Dorin Popescu told Television Romania that the NATO military base in Mihail Kogălniceanu is poised to become “the foremost permanent NATO military installation in proximity to the conflict in Ukraine.”
Romania has been a member of NATO for two decades and since the war started in Ukraine, it has fortified its defence capabilities and deterrence strategies.
This year, for example, its army will have a budget of €20 billion – 45% higher than in 2023. The money will mostly be used to purchase modern weapons.
According to Colonel Corneliu Pavel, head of the press office of the Romanian Ministry of National Defence, the establishment of the base is expected to solidify Romania’s security assurances within the allied framework.
“Romania has demonstrated in recent years that it is also a security provider for NATO allies. Changes in the Black Sea security architecture have been visible”, Pavel said in an interview with Euractiv.
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