Romania will proceed with the €2.5bn expansion of the Mihail Kogălniceanu military base near the Black Sea, regardless of the presence or involvement of United States or Nato forces, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) confirmed in a response to ProTV News published on April 28. The project is expected to be completed by 2040.

Upon completion, the Mihail Kogălniceanu base is expected to become one of the alliance’s most strategically important military installations, situated near the Black Sea and close to the eastern flank of Nato.

Located in Constanța County, the expanded base is envisioned as a major strategic hub capable of hosting 10,000 soldiers and operating as a full-scale military city. MApN officials stated that the construction is a fully Romanian-financed initiative and remains exclusively under national control, with no current participation from the US military.

At present, the contract for the new facilities is 31% complete. "Everything that happens on the military site is 100% Romania’s business. The Americans have no involvement whatsoever," the ministry said.

MApN also addressed recent media reports speculating about a potential US military withdrawal from Romania and Poland. The ministry clarified that no official communication has been received from Washington. “Romania has not received any official information in this regard from the United States. As such, we cannot formulate an official position in response to information based on press sources,” MApN stated.

Despite uncertainties in the broader geopolitical environment, Romanian authorities have reiterated their commitment to the project, which they describe as a vital long-term asset for Nato in the region.