Deveselu base “remains under the property of Romania”

The Deveselu base will remain under under Romanian sovereign jurisdiction and the property of Romania and the United States will be authorised to access and use it with full respect for Romanian law, according to the agreement on the deployment of ballistic missile defence system signed by Romania and the U.S.

The content of the agreement was made public by State Secretary Bogdan Aurescu and Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi.

The text also specifies, among others, that Romania will establish Restricted Airspace over and around the Base .

"Romania was more of a target for attacks from outside before the agreement with the United States on the deployment of U.S. ballistic missile defence system in our country than it is now", Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi said at the presentation of the document text.

Secretary of State Bogdan Aurescu said that such an agreement brings risks and benefits to Romania.

He explained that whether an attack on Romania comes from another state or non-state actors such as terrorists, our country will be protected from other NATO countries, under the Treaty Alliance.

Romania is even more protected because the agreement on the U.S. missile shield provides that the United States will ensure the protection of Romania, according to State Secretary Bogdan Aurescu.

The discussions on the missile shield agreement were held about a year ago and the document was signed by Hilary Clinton and Teodor Baconschi on 13 September.

The United States also concluded agreements for the deployment of ballistic missile defence system with the Czech Republic and Poland.

The main provisions of the Agreement

• missile defence system will be used exclusively for self-defence;

• Romania and the USA will share the costs of the facility;

• The Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period but may be may be terminated at any time by either Party upon a two-year written notice to the other Party;

• The Deveselu base will remain under Romanian sovereign jurisdiction and the property of Romania and the U.S. will be authorised to access and use the Base with full respect for Romanian law;

• Romania will establish Restricted Airspace over and around the Base;

• The number of members of the United States force and civilian component deployed at the Base will not exceed 500;

• U.S. forces will utilise "to the extent feasible" local physical persons and legal entities as suppliers of articles and services for the performance of a contract;

•The United States Senior Representative "shall have exclusive authority over activities and operations on the Facility", while Romania "shall be responsible for providing security and protection for the Base outside the perimeter of the Facility".


Translated by: Denisse-Meda Bucura
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University