NATO launches large-scale drills in Romania with 5,000 troops

Romania is hosting a major NATO exercise involving 5,000 troops, designed to simulate an attack on a member state and the allied response.

Over the coming weeks, hundreds of armoured vehicles and tanks will be seen moving on roads across the country, Caliber.Az reports, citing Romanian media.

The first foreign troops are expected to arrive in Romania on September 15. For the next month, military convoys, including numerous tanks and armoured vehicles, will operate in areas designated for the exercises, which include Cincu, Bogata, Smârdan, and Capu Midia. 

These locations have been selected as strategic sites to ensure comprehensive training in the defence of Romania’s borders.

Alongside Romanian forces, soldiers from France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, and Portugal will participate, bringing with them armoured personnel carriers, tanks, and rocket launchers. The allied troops are expected to remain in the country until the end of November.

The exercise marks a significant step for the NATO battlegroup stationed at Cincu, which is being upgraded to brigade level.

Once completed, the base will be capable of hosting around 5,000 troops in the event of an emergency or attack. NATO’s long-term plan is to elevate the Cincu battlegroup to divisional status by 2027 or 2028, potentially accommodating between 15,000 and 20,000 personnel.

The training is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO and ensure rapid readiness in the face of potential threats.

By Aghakazim Guliyev