Greek Foreign Minister goes to Gaza, insists on humanitarian corridor

A NATO-backed European F-16 Training Center (EFTC) was inaugurated at Romania's Borcea Air Base near the town of Fetești, 150 kilometers east of the capital Bucharest. Romanian and Ukrainian pilots will be trained there, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvăr and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren announced, quoted by BTA. 

The US company Lockheed Martin is providing the instructors and maintenance of the equipment, and the Netherlands will provide between 12 and 18 F-16 aircraft for the training program, which is expected to last at least 6 months. 

Romania itself currently has 17 second-hand F-16 fighter jets, which it bought from Portugal. It has also bought 32 second-hand F-16s from Norway, the first eight of which are expected to be delivered this year. 

The arrival of the first F-16s in Ukraine is expected from the spring of 2024.

Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic has been removed from his post after causing an accident that killed one person. He overtook a truck with his personal car. The 44-year-old minister collided with a van moving in the oncoming lane, and its driver died. 

After the incident, Banozic, who was hospitalized with injuries and does not remember the incident, was removed from his post by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Banozic's place was taken by the parliament-approved Ivan Anusic, a veteran of the War of Independence. Upon taking office, the new minister promised that during the remaining 5-6 months of the mandate, he would devote his efforts "to the strengthening and modernization of the Croatian army, a symbol of the strength and pride of the Croatian people," the government's press service reported.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova

English publication by Rositsa Petkova