Romania To Purchase its Own Iron Dome Missile Defense System

What Happened?

Romania’s Defense Minister announced this week that Romania will acquire the Iron Dome missile defense system used by Israel to protect the NATO country from short-range missiles. The announcement also said the missile defense system will protect Romanian cities and that the contract with manufacturer Rafael will be signed this autumn.

In the past months, debris from drones and missiles fired from Russia at Ukraine have come down in Romanian territory several times, prompting concerns about the need for missile defense. Thus far there are no indications Russia fired any projectiles at Romania intentionally.

Why it Matters

Romania is a member of the NATO alliance, and like Poland, because it is located in eastern Europe, it shares a border with Ukraine. While Romania doesn’t have a direct border with Russia, it does share a border with Moldova, which is often ruled by pro-Russian regimes. Romania’s border with Ukraine and relatively close proximity to Russia means the war in Ukraine has been closely watched by most Romanians. 

The United States is constructing a new military base at Mihail Kogqlniceanu, Constanta, which is in southeastern Romania on the Black Sea coast. Once completed the new installation will become the largest NATO military base in Europe. The new base will be able to house 10,000 soldiers and civilians by 2030, even more than Ramstein, Germany, which is currently the largest U.S. base in Europe.

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Building a new missile defense capability along with a major American military base will give Romania an increased role in NATO’s security architecture. And a position of greater strength in the Black Sea, which has long been dominated by Russia. These additions will also mean that Romania will likely be seen as a larger threat by Russia, who will then likely devote more time and resources planning ways to counter Romania’s growing importance to NATO.

A working missile defense system in Romania may also spur other eastern European nations to acquire or develop their own such systems. The threat from a growing arsenal of Russian missiles has long been viewed as a top threat by NATO member countries. NATO members, especially those closest to Russia, don’t want to see their cities hit by Russian missiles the way Ukraine’s cities have been.

Russia has condemned the efforts by NATO countries to build missile defense systems, claiming the same systems could also be used for offensive capabilities. While Iron Dome is a defensive system only, Russia has already threatened to deploy larger missiles in greater numbers closer to eastern Europe. 

How it Affects You

The buildups of missiles and defensive systems by Russia and NATO members in eastern Europe could become potential flash points for future conflicts. With more hardware in place in more locations, that means the number of possible flash points is increasing, and with it the potential for a direct conflict between Russia and NATO.