Călin Georgescu says that he will evaluate the shield from Deveselu, if the president of Romania arrives. In 2021 he said of it that it is a “diplomatic disgrace”. Instead, the locals of Deveselu say that the shield gives them security and jobs.
The shield from Deveselu Photo: Archive
The Deveselu Shield is an air defense system, operated by the United States Army, intended to defend Romania and the countries on NATO’s eastern border from possible missile attacks.
Asked what he will do with the shield from Deveselu if he reaches Cotroceni, Călin Georgescu, independent candidate in the presidential elections, said, recently, in an interview for Gândul.ro, that “will evaluate“.
“Everything will be evaluated, what are the advantages, what can be the advantages in the future, what has happened so far. We need to evaluate,” he stated, adding “everything is transparent, everything will be done legally, precisely, constitutionally, beyond my right, I transfer this constitutional guarantee to the political parties and I ask them to guarantee the dignity of every Romanian citizen“.
In 2021, in another interview, Călin Georgescu claimed that this shield “it’s a diplomatic shame“.
“The shield has nothing to do with defense. On the contrary, it dragged us into a conflict that we didn’t need. The shield as such is part of the politics of confrontation. The shield is not a matter of peace, as presented by those who have kicked the cannon at various gates”said Georgescu three years ago.
The shield became operational in 2016, after 12 years since Romania became a member state of the NATO alliance.
The people of Deveselu, a commune of almost three thousand inhabitants in the middle of Oltenia, tell Digi24 that the shield gives them security, brought them prosperity and jobs.
“We are quite safe, they have been helping us for a very long time. All the military bases, all these are gathered here“, says a local.
“It is dangerous what is being said now. You are young, I am older, and the elders told me what this Iron Guard means. We are supposed to stay on the outside“, considers another local
People are satisfied that this shield was placed in their commune.
“The very good conditions in Deveselu commune are due both to the American soldiers from the military base, but also to the local community. The kindergarten in Deveselu is built from scratch by the Americans and the school is renovated also thanks to the Americans. It helps children who are more disadvantaged both at Christmas and Easter, but also during the year”, says Ciprian Eugen Rusu, director of the Deveselu Secondary School.
The investment in the Deveselu military base cost 177 million dollars, of which Romania invested just over 11 million.
