The logistical key to any future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine is not on the front line, but hundreds of kilometers away, in Romania, according to a former high-ranking NATO commander.
Romania’s strategic air bases would be „absolutely vital” for any large-scale international force aiming to stabilize a post-conflict Ukraine, said retired U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, in an interview with Kyiv Post.
Breedlove, currently a board member of the American organization Saratoga Foundation, is the co-author of the article titled "Romania Holds the Key to Ukraine Peacekeeping", alongside the foundation's president, Glen Howard.
The central pillar of the article published in The National Interest is the Mihail Kogălniceanu (MK) airbase in Romania.
MK is "Incredibly Important"
Breedlove refers to the Mihail Kogălniceanu base as the "East's Ramstein," recalling the massive American airbase in Germany that has long been a key center for NATO combat operations.
"It is not news that MK is important for Western air operations," he wrote, mentioning the historic role of the base in supporting missions in Afghanistan.
The MK Air Base has played a central role in U.S. and coalition operations for over two decades. In the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War, the base was used as a transit and stopover point for troops and equipment entering and leaving the Middle East, recalls the former NATO commander.
"Tens of thousands of American soldiers passed through MK on their way to Kuwait and Iraq, and later it became a major transit point for U.S. forces entering and exiting Iraq and Afghanistan. Given its strategic location - with proximity to the Middle East and direct access to the Black Sea - the United States transformed it into a key NATO facility even before Romania officially joined the alliance in 2004," the American general stated.
"The MK base, simply due to its position, is incredibly important for anything we do in that part of the world and is uniquely positioned to be important for any operation in Ukraine," he emphasized.
While Europe and the United States are formulating a framework for peacekeeping in Ukraine, Romania's role will be indispensable, according to Breedlove: "Without its air bases, infrastructure, and political resolve, the logistical foundation of any coalition mission would be severely weakened. Peacekeeping will test U.S. and European commitments - and NATO's ability to project stability on its eastern flank. As a potential support for these operations, the 'East's Ramstein' in Romania holds the key to the success of a European-led peacekeeping mission in Ukraine."
Fears on NATO's Eastern Flank
The comments from the four-star American general come as discussions continue between Western nations, led, it seems, by the United Kingdom and France, to form a multinational force to assist in rebuilding the Ukrainian army and provide logistics after a potential peace agreement, notes the Ukrainian publication.
Although Romania has been an essential ally, its government has ruled out sending its own troops to Ukraine. This, Breedlove says, is rooted in deep geopolitical fears.
"Romania, like Poland and other nations, is so aware and concerned about the Russian invasion that it is hesitant to send forces outside their country, as (Romanians) fear they will have to defend their country," he explained.
He added that the level of participation of these nations on NATO's eastern flank will ultimately depend on the level of support they perceive from the rest of NATO.
"The nations on the eastern flank of this war... their participation in anything happening in Ukraine will depend on how well they are supported by NATO when they look back at the rest of NATO," he explained.
Putin's Actions Should Not Limit Western Response
Breedlove did not mince words when asked about fears of escalating tensions with Russia.
"Who is escalating this conflict right now? Putin is escalating this conflict," said the American general.
"He wants us to fear escalation. It's called reflexive control. I don't think we should limit our actions based on escalation because Putin is escalating. The conclusion is that we should take the actions we deem important for peace," he added.
Breedlove's analysis highlights a major dilemma: for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine to succeed, it must largely rely on a country, Romania, which is simultaneously cautious about direct military involvement due to the same conflict.
Therefore, the strategic importance of Romania's infrastructure is not just logistical but also a measure of trust and commitment within the NATO alliance, concludes Kyiv Post.