US sends F-22 fighters to reassure NATO allies facing Russia
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE - Two highly advanced US fighters flew to the Black Sea on Monday for the first time since Washington beefed up military support for NATO's eastern European allies who say they face aggression from Russia.
President Barack Obama promised in 2014 to bolster the defenses of NATO's eastern members, unnerved by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and the Kremlin's backing for pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
A US KC-135 refuelling plane flew with the two F-22 Raptor fighters from Britain to Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu air base on the Black Sea.
"We're here today to demonstrate our capability to take the F-22 anywhere needed in NATO or across Europe," said Squadron commander Daniel Lehoski.
"We want to ... actually fly the aircraft and train with our NATO allies," he told a travelling Reuters reporter.
