Nicușor Dan meets US congressional defense delegation at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base

Defense talks at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base

Romanian President Nicușor Dan hosted a delegation from the United States House of Representatives on Sunday, 30 August 2026, at the 57th Air Base Mihail Kogălniceanu in Constanța County. The visiting congressional mission was led by Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama who serves as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Representative Eric Sorensen, a Democrat from Illinois who is a member of the committee. Romanian Minister of National Defence Radu Miruță participated in the official consultations at the installation. In a statement published on X, Dan described the air base as the operational center of the American military presence in Romania and a concrete expression of bilateral security cooperation. Following the formal session, the Romanian head of state and Defense Minister Miruță joined the visiting US lawmakers for lunch at the base mess hall. President Dan also held discussions with American military personnel stationed at the facility and posed for photographs, according to materials released by the Presidential Administration.

Regional security and Strategic Partnership priorities

The bilateral discussions focused on defense cooperation, collective resilience, and security conditions throughout the Black Sea region. The delegations evaluated the strategic significance of the Black Sea for transatlantic defense and emphasized the requirement to strengthen collective deterrence. President Dan stated that Romania is prepared to take on a larger role in its own defense posture by fulfilling and increasing its defense commitments.

Romania is ready to assume a larger share of responsibility for its own defense by increasing our commitments and fulfilling them.

In official communications following the meeting, Dan noted that the talks covered a broad spectrum of priorities within the expanding Romania-United States Strategic Partnership. The agenda included bilateral cooperation in the defense industry, energy development, transport infrastructure, critical minerals, and emerging technologies. Dan emphasized that deepening both commercial ties and defense ties serves transatlantic alliance cohesion.

Consolidating and expanding the economic and military presence of the United States in Romania is a priority for our bilateral partnership, for the security of the Black Sea region, and for the unity of the Transatlantic Alliance.

Congressional delegation itinerary across Romania

The inspection and meetings at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base formed part of an official congressional visit running from 28 August to 31 August 2026. Prior to travelling to the Black Sea coast on Sunday, the American delegation conducted a series of governmental consultations in Bucharest on Saturday, 29 August. Lawmakers met with Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs Cătălin Predoiu at the Ministry of Internal Affairs headquarters to discuss administrative and domestic security matters. The delegation then visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters for talks with Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu regarding regional stability and strategic diplomatic cooperation. The four-day congressional visit to Romania concludes on Monday, 31 August 2026.