RAMSTEIN, Germany – From December 18-22, under the umbrella of NATO's Assurance Measures U.S. Air Force Airmen from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, South Carolina, successfully supported NATO enhance Air Policing in Romania.

Alongside with Italian and Romanian Air Forces they were flying together to protect and safeguard Allied airspace. This planned deployment was focused on assuring the Allied air presence in the Black Sea Region, enhancing multinational relationships and improving interoperability between Allies.

Exercising with joint and combined allies and partners increases and enhances interoperability, enabling coalition forces to counter military aggression and coercion by sharing responsibilities for common defense objectives.

Enhanced Air Policing is part of NATO's Assurance Measures introduced in 2014, after Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of the Crimean peninsula. The Alliance implemented these Assurance Measures with the goal to demonstrate the collective resolve of Allies, demonstrate the defensive nature of NATO and deter Russia from aggression or the threat of aggression against NATO Allies. They are flexible and scalable in response to fluctuations in the security situation facing the Alliance and send a strong, unambiguous message to the public. Alliance and