(Washington) The United States has approved the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Romania, a contract valued at $7.2 billion, according to a statement from the State Department on Friday.
The contract, which still needs to be approved by the US Congress, involves the acquisition by Bucharest of 32 F-35A aircraft, as well as the engines. The contract benefits the arms giant Lockheed Martin.
“This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the statement said.
The announcement of the contract comes as Ukrainian pilots began training this week on F-16s at a special center in Romania, with Kyiv seeking to accelerate the use of these valuable American fighters to repel Russian strikes.
Romania occupies a strategic position at the gateway to Ukraine and the Black Sea, and wants to become “an international hub” for F-16 training.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Romanian counterpart Luminita Odobescu on Thursday, thanking Bucharest for delivering a Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine.
Ukraine has been facing constant Russian missile fire since the war began in February 2022.