US may use Romanian airbase for 2014 Afghan pullout

The United States is about to reach a deal with Romania that would see American troops return home from Afghanistan via an air base on the Black Sea.

The proposed agreement would solve a major problem for the United States as it will be facing a logistical hurdle when it pulls out its forces from Afghanistan over the next year, Dawn News reports.

US defense officials said that under the agreement, troop flight operations would shift to Romania from Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan, where a lease expires in July 2014.

According to the report, the tentative plan will be discussed when Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel will meet Romania's Defence Minister Corneliu Dobritoiu for talks.

Romania has earlier agreed to host a site for US anti-missile interceptors as part of a Nato ballistic missile defense system.

Officials said that some equipment would also be flown from Afghanistan to the base.