According to Defence Ministry sources cited by G4Media, Romania has asked the United States for a substantial, permanent increase in American troops at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base and other key sites. The proposal was reportedly put to U.S. defence strategist Elbridge Colby for a report to Congress and the Trump administration.

An official MApN statement confirms that Defence Minister Ștefan-Radu Oprea discussed with Colby keeping the U.S. military presence, Black Sea security and better host-nation infrastructure. Details about “permanent troops” and force levels come from sourced reporting, not as a public U.S. commitment; any decision rests with Washington.

G4Media’s sources say Bucharest offered several cost scenarios close to Poland’s model and that Kogălniceanu already plans expansion for lodging and support, including for families. Colby was said to be drafting a post-visit report; no official White House timeline has been announced.

The same piece describes a roughly €200 million industrial drone project with Ukraine as bureaucratically stalled in Bucharest — with Romtehnica said to lack operational capacity — and discusses a shift to the Economy Ministry or a General Armaments Directorate purchase. MApN is also said to be pushing a Sig Sauer plant for 6.8 mm calibre and faster Thales radar deliveries.

Sources also flag Black Sea and Neptun Deep vulnerabilities and limits of the MEROPS anti-UAV system, amid allied support. Those points are not item-by-item confirmed in public releases; they remain sourced claims alongside the official reaffirmation of interest in a U.S. presence.

Source: SURSE | Culisele apărării: România cere SUA trupe permanente la Kogălniceanu (G4Media); România vrea menținerea prezenței militare americane pe teritoriul său (Mediafax)