Transatlantic Talks

Romania, as a NATO and EU member, supports unreservedly firm sanctions against Russia.

Florentin Căpitănescu, 30.04.2014, 13:43

In the last few years, Romania provided every argument for analysts to believe that the relationship between this country and the United States has never been better. The security side of this relationship, represented by the bilateral strategic partnership, embodied in the military collaboration in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as by the elements of the anti-ballistic shield installed in Romania, is believed to be essential for the authorities in Bucharest.

Another aspect of this relationship can now be seen from the perspective of the situation in Ukraine, Romania’s neighbor. During his visit to Washington, Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean met with US Secretary of StateJohn Kerry, and also attended a conference of the Atlantic Council dedicated to Europe. In both meetings, the Romanian foreign minister said his country supported without reservations firm sanctions against Russia. Here is the minister himself:

“Our position has been constant, very clear and very committed. In European debates, all the signals we have provided, at a European level included, towards the Russian Federation, have not been well understood by Moscow, and I believe there are no more reasons to ponder any longer. We must preserve our credibility at the EU level, and to examine and adopt supplementary sanctions that are required.”

Western sanctions, according to the Romanian official, have to be accompanied obligatorily by a solid military presence in Eastern Europe. Here is Titus Corlatean again:

“A sizable and rapid NATO military presence is required, especially on the eastern flank of the Alliance, specifically in Romania, Poland and the Baltic states mainly. We also demanded a permanent NATO presence in the air, land, and sea, in our case in the Black Sea.”

Things have started to move for Romania, proof of that being that Canada announced that it would station six of its fighters in this country. In the face of Russia’s expansionist policy, the participants in the conference hosted by Washington convened that the US and the EU have to respond proportionally by bolstering defense spending in Europe, which Romania has already done, but also by promoting energy independence from Russia for member states and enhancing economic ties between the US and Europe.