World
Balkans Confident That U.S Will Establish Military Bases in Bulgaria and Romania
By Staff
Mar 12, 2005, 12:13

Ministry of Defence officials from two of NATO's newest members, Bulgaria and Romania are expressing optimism that the United States will establish military bases within their borders, an assertion that is supported by the commander of U.S. forces in Europe, General James Jones.

Speaking before the House of Representatives in early March General Jones stated that military officials have visited the two Balkan countries repeatedly and were finally ready to begin formal talks in regards to setting up American bases in both Romania and Bulgaria. The General went on to say that the U.S. military believes it is prudent to establish smaller bases which are logistically closer to major conflicts rather than rely on larger bases which are geographically distant.

The Bulgarian Defence Ministry welcomes the pending arrival of up to 5,000 U.S. troop personnel who will set up logistical support bases for missions within Iraq as well as other trouble spots around the world.

A Bulgarian newspaper is reporting that the American military are drafting plans and negotiating for the rental of one army base, two air bases, a naval base and a missile-launching base within Romanian and Bulgarian borders because of that area's geographical propinquity to conflicts in Euorpe and the Middle East.

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