President Traian Băsescu yesterday announced Romania's historicdecision to agree to the deployment of interceptor missilelaunchers on its territory that will be used in case of a nuclearstrike from East against the West.
A number of 24 missile launchers will be deployed in Deveselu,Olt County, near Caracal and 300 kilometres West of Bucharest.
Unlike previous negotiations when only the deployment of a radarto detect intercontinental missiles with a range of over 4,500kilometres as part of the US antimissile shield was discussed, theagreement reached by the CSAT (Supreme Defence Council) with theAmerican party entails deployment of interceptor missilelaunchers.
This means that ballistic missiles will be intercepted fromDeveselu, in case they are launched towards Europe. The countriesin the East that have missiles with a range of over 4,000kilometres are Russia, Iran, China, India, Israel and Pakistan.Traian Băsescu yesterday reiterated specifically that the shieldwas not directed against Russia, Romania's former ally from 1945through 1990.
The President announced there would be 200 US troops stationedin Deveselu, with the number likely to go up to 500.
Another major decision made by the CSAT on Monday night was toallow the US to use Mihail Kogălniceanu airport and Constanţaharbour as transit points for troops going to Iraq andAfghanistan.
The Americans' decision to involve Romania in building theantimissile shield and Romania's decision to agree to it are one ofthe most important decisions in history as far as Bucharest isconcerned.
The message that Bucharest is sending to the internationalcommunity is that Romania is an unconditional ally to the US andone of the most powerful in Europe.
It should be noted that the talks over the deployment of theshield in the Czech Republic and Poland stirred protests in thosecountries, which did not happen in Romania.
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