Hagel, in Romania, recommits to regional security

CONSTANTA , Romania, June 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, aboard a warship in the Black Sea off the Romanian coast Thursday, reinforced a U.S. commitment to protect NATO's Eastern European allies.

On the USS Vella Gulf -- a ship equipped with an Aegis missile defense system and patrolling the Black Sea since mid-March -- Hagel said, "We will sustain this tempo going forward."

In Constanta, a Romanian port city, Hagel conferred with his Romanian counterpart, Defense Minister Mircea Dusa, about $1 billion in funding President Obama said he will request from the Congress would help pay for "a stronger presence of U.S. ships in the Black Sea," as well as "more U.S. troop rotations for exercises and training."

Hagel's presence, as well as the G7 meeting in Brussels, is part of a campaign to reassure NATO members of U.S. solidarity with its eastern partners, as well as serve as a warning to Russia about aggression in Crimea and its perceived involvement in Ukraine.

Romania has become one of NATO's most active members since joining ten years ago. It has sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan; three months ago, its MK air base became the main transit point for U.S. troops and supplies entering and leaving Afghanistan. Over 50,000 troops have transferred through the base thus far.