Europe’s largest NATO military base is now being built near the port city of Constanța on the Black Sea. The base is to be built like a small town on an area of 3,000 hectares and will house more than 10,000 soldiers when completed. The construction costs are estimated at around 2.5 billion euros.
Nicolae Crețu, the base’s commander, confirmed the scope of the new project to Euronews Romania. “We are building everything needed to operate and fulfill the mission of a base of this size: maintenance hangars, fuel depots, ammunition depots, storage for equipment and aeronautical material, simulators, catering facilities, accommodation and much more.”
The establishment of the NATO base is a direct response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine should be understood. The exact role of the new base has not yet been specified in detail, but several runways will enable the extensive deployment of air forces. The new base could therefore replace Ramstein as the most important US base in Europe.
Dorin Popescu, a Romanian military and political analyst, sees the project as an important step in countering Russia’s growing threats against the West. “The Mihail Kogălniceanu base will become the most important permanent NATO military structure in the immediate vicinity of the conflict in Ukraine. It is unlikely that this conflict will end this year, 2025 or 2026. It will probably be a long-term war.”
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