Romania allows US antimissile shield on the southern part of its territory

Romania’s highest defence body approved the setting up of US antimissile shield elements at a former airbase at Deveselu, in the southern Romanian Olt county, President Traian Basescu said Tuesday.

The airbase remains under Romanian command.

Basescu said 200 US troops will be deployed in Deveselu, for starters, adding the airbase will remain under the command of the Romanian Air Force.

Basescu reiterated the U.S. antimissile shield is a defensive, not an offensive, system and is in no way directed at Russia.