As Pentagon announced to close its base in Kyrgyzstan, the US entered into an agreement with Romania for an airbase on the Black Sea as a transit point for its troops leaving Afghanistan.
The agreement in this regard was reached following a meeting between US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and his Romanian counterpart Mircea Dusa at the Pentagon.
This airbase will support logistics into and out of Afghanistan, including both personnel and cargo movement, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.
"Hagel praised this agreement, which is particularly important as the US prepares to wind down transit centre operations at Manas, Kyrgystan next year," Little said.
The Defence Secretary highlighted this agreement as further testament to Romania's steadfast commitment to the ISAF mission and its commitment to regional and international security.
Earlier in the day, the Pentagon announced that it has begun the process of relocating from the Transit Centre at Manas International Airport, and plans to complete transfer of areas and facilities to Government of Kyrgyzstan by July 2014.
"The current agreement between the US and Kyrgyz governments on hosting the TCM expires in July 2014. The US appreciates the support provided by the Kyrgyz people to its forces and coalition efforts to counter threat of terrorism and achieve security and stability in Afghanistan and the region," Little said in a separate statement.
"It respects the decision of the Government of Kyrgyzstan to end hosting the TCM after more than 12 years," he said.
He said working closely with Kyrgyzstan over the next nine months, the US will manage the TCM relocation effort while continuing to support the International Security Assistance Force mission.
"The US intends to continue supporting Kyrgyzstan's democratic and economic development, and we look forward to further developing our bilateral relationship in the years ahead," Little said.
In his meeting, Hagel thanked Dusa for his country's decision to host the Aegis Ashore missile defence system, emphasising that the agreement reaffirms and strengthens the collective defence upon which NATO was founded.
"This system represents an important component of the larger European Phased Adaptive Approach and is expected to be operational in 2015," Little said.
The Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, James N Miller, will attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aegis Ashore system at Deveselu later this month, he said, and praised Romania's decision to purchase 12 F-16 aircraft from Portugal.
Little, on yesterday, announced to leave his current position in the Pentagon by middle of next month.
