
Romania purchasing High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) is presented by the Kremlin’s channel Sputnik as a move by means of which the US is trying to bring into the region equipment that will be used in a future attack on Russia.
NEWS: “The security system of the Black Sea countries is being systematically dismantled by the US and NATO. The deployment of heavy weapons in Eastern Europe has certain well-defined goals and will not go unanswered by Russia’s Ministry of Defense.
We can admit that the American systems were offered to Romania for safe keeping. When the right time comes, US-flagged planes and ships will show up, carrying HIMARS closer to Russia, to the Kherson region for example. Hypothetically, in a war situation, the 41st US Field Artillery Brigade could borrow the “Romanian” HIMARS on their way to Georgia or Ukraine. There is no conspiracy, because carrying out Pentagon's maneuvers in the Black Sea region is quite transparent.
In late 2020, the US ground forces practiced in Romania the "hi-tech war" tactic: in just a few hours they transported by air, from Germany to the Kogalniceanu air base, two HIMARS systems and launched several rockets in the direction of the Sea Black.
The distance from the Romanian coast to the Russian coast is 400 kilometers, and HIMARS rockets cannot travel that far. However, according to Forbes, Pentagon’s Romanian mission has become "a message to Moscow" and "a missile surprise" for the Russian forces in Crimea, Sputnik writes.
NARRATIVES : 1. The US uses Romania as a bridgehead or as a Forward Operating Base (FOB) to attack Russia ; 2. Romania is a US military colony ; 3. Romania gets armed not for defensive, but for offensive purposes (including nuclear), and that is why Russia must respond.
LOCAL CONTEXT/ETHOS: In the past years, Romania has pursued a policy of military endowment and gradual replacement and modernization of its arsenal, mostly of Soviet origin. The strategic partnership with the United States and a 10-year plan to bring the Romanian army up to NATO standards have visibly irritated Moscow because of its weakening power to deter smaller states bordering the Black Sea. NATO quickly realized that, after the annexation of Crimea, the balance of power in the Black Sea must be re-established and Russian militarism in the region must be tempered.
Romania and the USA have signed a $ 1.5 billion contract for the delivery of the first three HIMARS rocket systems. In addition to the 54 launchers (18 on each system), the contract also provides for the purchase of 81 M31A1 Unitary rockets and 81 M30A1 Alternative warhead, as well as, 54 ATACMS, with a range of up to 300 kilometers.
In fact, the former US ambassador to Bucharest, Adrian Zuckerman, stated in November 2019 that HIMARS systems were part of a larger defense framework designed by Romania in partnership with the US, which also includes the purchase of F-16 fighter jets and Patriot missiles.
The arrival of the first HIMARS systems in Romania set fire to Russian propaganda who is trying to present the armament as one that is ready for attack and to be quickly airlifted to Russia in case of a combined attack by the US and Romania.
In fact, Russia has similar reactions every time NATO strengthens its defense capability, especially when it comes to the Alliance's eastern flank. Moscow is seeking to present itself as a potential victim of NATO aggression despite the fact that it is the one behind multiple aggressions near its very borders.
PURPOSE: To present Romania and the USA as two aggressor states that are preparing for battle and want to attack Russia, a state that is on the defensive. Subliminally, the idea is induced that Romania is preparing for a new attack on Russia with its new US military ally, just like during the Second World War, when Romania entered the battle alongside Germany.
The United States is demonized as the greatest danger to world peace at the moment.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Sputnik's analysis is a mixture of narratives that are not supported by facts but rather built on unilateral arguments and a single visibly biased scenario. Moreover, they clearly ignore the stated purpose of both the seller and the buyer, namely the defensive one.
In a document published by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, it is clearly stated that the purpose of this contract for the acquisition of HIMARS systems is to strengthen Romania's defensive capability.
The proposed sale of the HIMARS system will support Romania's needs with regard to its own self-defense and will support NATO's defense goals. “The Government of Romania intends to use these defense articles and services to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats”, the document reads.
In the statement of reasons presented as part of a bill of the Chamber of Deputies, the Ministry of National Defense explains that “the high-range rocket launch system employs surface or point targets in the depth of the enemy's device at distances of up to 300 km, using intelligent GPS and INS guided ammunition in all operational environments ".
This means that Romania will not be able to use these rockets to attack Russian targets, because none of them are within a range of less than 300 kilometers.
HIMARS rockets could only reach as far as the Russian depots and troops in Transnistria, illegally stationed on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, so they are not part of the territory of Russia, but together with the Russian troops on the left bank of the Dniester.
Moreover, the defensive goal is also rendered by Romania's intention to replace the 122 mm caliber unmanned reactive projectile launchers and LAROM multiple rocket launchers, which can launch both 122 mm caliber unmanned reactive projectiles - GRAD and 160 mm caliber rockets with LAR MK-4 submunitions, but which are not compliant with the NATO standards.
In reality, Russia is bothered by the results of the Romanian American exercise of November 2019 Rapid Falcon, organized by the General Staff of the Land Forces and the US Land Forces in Europe, at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base 57 and Capul Midia Polygon, in which HIMARS systems were involved.
The exercise simulated the engagement of targets at sea in the form of hypothetical enemy ships that would have come too close to the Romanian coast. As Russia has concentrated a large part of the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, about 400 kilometers away, these HIMARS systems can deter attacks from this location on the Romanian coast.
Under no circumstances can HIMARS rockets, which travel a maximum of 300 kilometers, hit targets in the Crimean peninsula, and that again is evidence that they are defense systems only.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: HIMARS systems were acquired by Romania to strengthen its defense capabilities and interoperability with NATO-equipped weapons in order to strengthen the southeastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance. Their range also includes Russian targets, but these are ammunition depots and the Transnistrian contingent (illegally stationed there), which are therefore far from Russian territory.
THE NARRATIVES BENEFIT the Kremlin, the pro-Russia sympathizers and the anti-America audience.