Canada will resume its air policing missions in Romania from July, Romania’s Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Monday, adding that there will be six CF-18 aircraft involved, according to Agerpres.
Until December, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) detachment carried out air policing missions in the country as part of Canada’s NATO commitments.
“I am glad to welcome that from July of this year, Canada will resume air policing mission in Romania with F-18 planes, and I am glad to note this strong gesture of solidarity from Canada,” said Aurescu in a joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly.
“The number of the Canadian military in Romania could reach 200 this year,” stated Joly.
She said Canada has increased its presence on NATO’s eastern flank and has made a frigate available to NATO. Joly explained Canada this willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that the entire eastern flank and especially Romania is well protected.
Aurescu stated that so far the Romanian Foreign Ministry has facilitated the safe evacuation of approximately 600 Canadian nationals.
“Western states will announce more sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine,” said Joly.
„We have imposed with Romania through the EU very important, severe sanctions, and there will be more sanctions announced very soon,” added Canadian Foreign Minister.
She stated that G7 countries and the European Union were looking at further restrictions but without elaborating.