Former Romanian president Traian Băsescu believes that it’s possible that Iran might hit American equipment stationed in Romania and has encouraged Romanians to have a plan to take shelter with provisions.
In a Facebook post, from March 16, Băsescu offered what he described as a “personal opinion” on Romania’s deepening military cooperation with the United States. In his classic style, however, the intervention is less a personal reflection than an insinuation of strategic candor…in a country where security discourse remains tightly aligned with official optimism.
The translated text is as follows:
“Just a personal opinion.
I did not intend to contradict official statements. The content of this post is just a personal opinion generated by the fact that international developments are uncertain primarily due to the unpredictable Trump.
Upon express request, Romania made the military bases in Kogălniceanu and Câmpia Turzii available to the US army.
The decision is correct and in the long-term interest of strengthening the relationship with the US and Romania’s security.
The two military bases will host tanker planes for aerial refueling of fighter/bomber planes, research and bombing drones, radars for directing anti-missile systems and fighter jets, etc.
In my opinion, none of the above means defensive military equipment.
Although we have an old and good relationship, it is possible that Iran will try to hit the American equipment deployed in the bases in Kogălniceanu and Turda. In such a situation, Romania has the necessary military equipment to remove the danger, but no one can guarantee the elimination of all risks.
Terrorist attacks carried out by radicalized Islamists or cyber attacks represent another category of risks.
Under these conditions, in my opinion, the Romanian state must urgently take preventive measures to inform the population about how to act in the event of possible attacks.
Perhaps it would be good for each of us to think about where he and his family are sheltering, if he has money and means of subsistence for two or three days, if necessary.
For the above risks, I said in my previous post that Trump must pay.
Let’s note this! It is no longer free as in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans.
The post is just an opinion.”
At issue is Romania’s decision to host expanded U.S. military capabilities at bases such as Mihail Kogălniceanu and Câmpia Turzii, accepted by Romania as a move is widely framed as a natural extension of NATO’s defensive posture on its eastern flank. But the assets in question, which are air-to-air refueling aircraft, reconnaissance and strike drones, and advanced radar systems are not merely defensive, rather, they are instruments of projection.
Unfortunately, thus, Romania is shifting from defense to platform. This is unfortunate for civilians because defensive infrastructure deters attack, while operational infrastructure attracts it. By hosting systems that enable broader American military reach, Romania has moved from being a protected periphery to a node within an active strategic network.
Now Băsescu has stated that civilian security, previously granted through Atlantic alignment, is no longer guaranteed. And the truth is that in military logic, anything as minor as providing “refuelling”, which is what Romania has agreed to provide, can make it a legitimate target in times of war.
Hybrid threats are almost certain to occur, as Iran operates via this path. Hopefully Iran won’t trigger Article 5, but it has explicitly warned Romania already.
