Gen. Tom Hobbins, head of US Air Forces in Europe, traveled to Mihail Kogalniceanu AB, Romania, Oct. 19-20 to visit with Romania military officials in anticipation of the new joint task force headquarters to be based at Mihail. Plans call for 100 US Air Force and US Army members. USAFE aircrews will use the facility to conduct aerial tactical training with their Romanian counterparts. During his visit, Hobbins commended the Romanian military, saying: “Romania has provided security in the Balkans, in Iraq, and Afghanistan. We have a good relationship working and training together.”
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.