The Romanian President Trajan Basescu said in televised remarks that Romania would assign the former Air Force base Devevselu, in the south of the country, for the purpose. According to the President, the US will deploy 200 servicemen at the base, but may boost the overall strength to 500, if necessary. Trajan Basescu stressed that the US base would not be aimed against Russia.
In spring last year, the Romanian leader said Bucharest would have three batteries with 24 missile launchers deployed in Romania as part of the plan to deploy the US antimissile defences in Europe by the year 2015. Russia sees the plan as a threat to its national security.