BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania's defense minister says U.S. plans to deploy anti-missile interceptors in his country are going ahead and that Romania has an "exceptional" partnership with the United States.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel last week announced plans to place long-range missile interceptors in the final stage of its European system are being abandoned. U.S. officials have stressed they will deploy shorter-range missiles to Poland and Romania.
Mircea Dusa told the Associated Press on Tuesday that "I have very serious insurances from the American side that the investment in Romania will continue," and interceptors will be deployed in 2015.
"Our military cooperation (with the US) since we joined NATO is an exceptional one."
He says Romanian officials were informed three weeks ago followed by confirmation "two to three hours" before the announcement.
