January 18, 2026 UPDATE
A roundup of local and world news
Newsroom, 18.01.2026, 19:57
GREENLAND Romania’s President, Nicusor Dan, on Sunday voiced great concern about the escalation of public statements between transatlantic partners and allies on the latest developments. In a post on X social network he pleaded for the resumption of direct dialogue at the right diplomatic levels. Eight European countries on Sunday issued a joint statement of solidarity with Greenland in response to the US President’s threats to annex the island. “As NATO members we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest”, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden said in their joint statement with Denmark. “Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”, the signatories said referring to Trump’s announcement on Saturday that the aforementioned states would be facing a 10% tariff as of February 1. In another development sources close to French President Emmanuel Macron say that he will ask for the activation of the EU’s anti-coercive instrument in case of new US tariffs. According to the AFP, the aforementioned instrument, whose implementation requires a qualified majority of EU countries, allows, among other things, for freezing access to European public markets or blocking some investment.
TRADE Following the implementation of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement the present custom duties, of up to 55%, on agrifood products from the EU will be eliminated enabling the Romanian farmers to increase their exports to the South-American trade bloc, says a document posted on the webpage of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade, (DG TRADE). Agriproducts presently account for only 5% of the total EU exports to Mercosur, due to high customs duties and other restrictions imposed by the South American trade bloc. In 2024, the value of exported Romanian agriproducts stood at one million Euros. 15 Romanian products with geographical indication, the so-called GIs, are going to benefit from protection on Mercosur markets. According to DG TRADE, the Romanian companies are going to benefit from business facilities in the Mercosur countries. Romanian service providers will be able to offer cheaper services and more easily, while Romanian producers of agrifood and industrial equipment will be able to increase their exports and Romanian-made delicatessen will be sold in larger quantities and at better prices. On Saturday in Asuncion, Paraguay, the EU and Mercosur countries signed a historical trade agreement marking the end of 25 years of negotiations and the creation of the largest free-trade area in the world with over 700 million inhabitants, accounting for 30% of the world’s GDP.
BOARD The Presidential Administration in Bucharest on Sunday has confirmed it received a letter the US President, Donald Trump addressed to his Romanian counterpart, Nicusor Dan, which has the formal invitation that Romania become member of the so-called Board of Peace. A couple of days ago, the US leader announced the setting up of a peace and transition council for Gaza. According to Reuters, almost all European states have been invited to join the board, with the exception of the three Baltic States. Israel is contesting the board, saying that some of the appointments were ‘not coordinated with Israel and were contrary to its policy’.
WEATHER The latest cold wave is going to have most of Romania’s regions in its grip until the middle of next week, meteorologists say. Freezing temperatures were felt on Sunday in the country’s east, center and south-east, and the phenomenon will expand to the entire territory with the exception of two western counties. As of Monday, almost the entire Romanian territory is bracing up for more freezing weather with lows ranging between – 20 and – 10 degrees Celsius. Sunday’s highs were between -12 and zero degrees Celsius with a noon reading in Bucharest of -6.
DRONES Experts with the Romanian Ministry of Defence went to a locality in south-eastern Romania to investigate debris of an alleged flying vehicle. According to the Defence Ministry’s press office, the fragments have been taken to be investigated. In another development, on Saturday night, the surveillance system of the aforementioned ministry detected a group of Russian drones flying through Ukrainian space, almost 10 kilometers north of Romania’s border. No unauthorized breeches of the country’s airspace have been reported. Since the onset of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, 70 drone attacks have been reported close to the country’s border with Romania.
HANDBALL The Romanian champions in women’s handball, CSM Bucharest clinched a 26-20 win in the Champions League’s Group B against Slovenian side Krim Ljubljana. A week ago the Romanians outperformed Danish side Odense Handbold. In Group A of the same competition, Gloria Bistrita conceded defeat 32-28 to Danish side Team Esbjerg.
VISIT The Commander of the United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus G. Grynkewich will be paying a working visit to the National Joint Training Center Getica, based in Cincu, central Romania. He will be visiting the Command of the Multinational Corps South-East in Sibiu, central Romania together with Chief of Staff, General Gheorghita Vlad. According to the Ministry of National Defence, the visit of the two military leaders is highlighting NATO and Romania’s firm commitment to strengthening regional security and the deterrence and defence posture on the Alliance’s south-eastern flank.
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