U.S. bombers arrive in Romania to join international task force

Two Russian aircraft on Sunday intercepted two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft as they were flying in international airspace over the Barents Sea, according to the U.S. Air Force. The American aircraft did not change course and landed at an allied base in Romania without incident. As planned, the Stratofortresses met or integrated with NATO fighter aircraft before landing, according to a NATO statement. Russia scrambled its fighter jets to make sure the bombers did not enter Russian airspace, according to Moscow’s defense ministry.

Why are the bombers in Europe? While deployed, the B-52s will partner with NATO allies and other international partners to maintain regional safety, NATO said It is the first time U.S. bombers have operated from the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near the Black Sea. Four bombers were previously deployed in May to the RAF Fairford base in the United Kingdom. The two sent to Romania are assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing based in Louisiana’s Barksdale Air Force Base, NATO said.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s report on The World and Everything in It about the role of NATO in deterring aggression.