The Romanian minister of defense, Mihai Fifor, says the missile defense shield at Deveslu base, in the southern part of Romania, is not fitted with ballistic missiles.
His reaction came after a comment made during an interview with a local news channel.
“I don’t think anyone could say that at Deveselu we deal with ballistic missiles. Last night, I said that we have the Deveselu base, which handles ballistic missiles, not in any case (did I say – e.n.) that at Deveselu we have such missiles, “said Fifor for Digi24.
The minister went on to say that “under no circumstance I could ever say that at Deveselu we have ballistic missiles.”
NSF Deveselu is the first Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Facility placed into operation, providing support to NATO’s overall ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, according to an official presentation. The Aegis command consists of a fire-control radar deckhouse and an associated Aegis command, control and communications suite, and housing launch modules that contain SM-3 defense missiles.
Last night, during an interview at Antena 3, Fifor said that Russian president Vladimir Putin can’t be “thrilled” that Romania is seriously developing its military capabilities.
“How could president Putin ever be thrilled by the fact that Romania has a military base at Deveselu, with ballistic missiles, how could president Putin ever be thrilled that at the Mihail Kogalniceanu military base there are American and we insist in the strategic partnership with the US to ensure the permanent stationing of American soldiers on Romanian territory. How could the Russian Federation ever be thrilled by the fact that Romania is developing its naval capacities?” said the minister.