The US State Department has approved the sale of dozens of F-35 fighter jets to NATO ally Romania, in a deal worth $7.2 billion.
The contract, which still needs US Congressional approval, involves Bucharest purchasing 32 F-35A aircraft and related equipment, produced by US aerospace and defence giant Lockheed Martin.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the State Department said in a statement.
The contract announcement comes as Ukrainian pilots began training this week at a special center in Romania on F-16s, U.S.-made fighter jets sent to Kiev to fend off a Russian invasion.
Romania is strategically located at the gateway to Ukraine and the Black Sea and aims to become an international F-16 training center. It opened an F-16 training center at its Viteşti air base in November 2023 and has pledged to train Ukrainians there as well.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Romanian counterpart Luminita Odobescu on Thursday, thanking Bucharest for delivering the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine.
The State Department also announced its approval of the $4.1 billion sale of KC-46A aerial refueling aircraft to Japan.
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