January 21, 2026 UPDATE

The latest news from RRI

Newsroom, 21.01.2026, 20:00

Board of Peace – The President of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, announced that he has begun an in-depth analysis of the content and implications of joining the Charter of the Board of Peace, an initiative launched by US leader Donald Trump and to which Romania was also invited. This assessment aims to establish the degree of compatibility of the new initiative with the commitments that our country has, especially within the UN and the European Union. At the same time, the Romanian authorities want to identify the optimal ways in which Romania can contribute to achieving the objective of consolidating peace in the world. On the other hand, the Romanian head of state welcomed the US President’s initiative to promote international peace and security, including the efforts dedicated to identifying solutions for the conflict in Gaza and other major global challenges.

Davos – A country’s territory cannot be transferred to another except by the will of that people, the Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu said on Wednesday. She is participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos, from where she sent a video message posted on Facebook that Romania has one of the most consistent government delegations. According to Oana Ţoiu, the delegation’s goal is to show world leaders, as well as business leaders, Romania’s role as a trusted partner in the region, as a destination for investments, and also as a lucid voice in a period of uncertainty. The Foreign Minister also reiterated that Bucharest’s interest is for NATO to be strong and for the transatlantic partnership not to be shaken. Present in Davos, US President Donald Trump promised that he would not resort to force to annex Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. At the same time, he claimed that the United States is the only ‘great power’ that ‘is capable to defend Greenland’ and accused Denmark of ‘ingratitude’. Trump has previously accused Denmark of neglecting Arctic security in the face of what he described as threats from Russia and China in the strategic region, justifying his intention to annex. NATO has warned that Trump’s strategy could destabilize the alliance, while the leaders of Denmark and Greenland have offered a wide range of solutions for a greater US presence on the strategic island territory, with a population of 57,000. Since returning to the White House a year ago, Trump has shown interest in Greenland, rich in mineral resources, including rare earths, essential for advanced technologies and the military industry.

Ukraine – The Social Democratic Party (PSD), in the ruling coalition in Bucharest, requested, on Wednesday, the institutions with responsibilities in the country’s foreign policy to urgently clarify with the Ukrainian authorities the reasons why Romania was recently omitted from the list of states for which Kiev regulated the possibility of having a dual citizenship agreement. The PSD considers that this omission clearly affects the Romanian community in Ukraine, is deeply unfair in relation to the sacrifice of ethnic Romanians who fell in the line of duty on the Ukrainian front and contrasts strongly with the unconditional support offered by Romania throughout the war with Russia, it is stated in a statement. According to the PSD, such an arbitrary approach from Kiev may even affect the process of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Romanians represent the second largest ethnic minority in the neighboring state.

Budget – Romania’s future draft budget, which is expected to be ready in mid-February, was analyzed on Wednesday by the Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and the Governor Mugur Isărescu at the National Bank of Romania headquarters. Also on Wednesday, a commission formed by representatives of local officials from all parties had a first meeting to discuss the construction of the budget, amid the increase in taxes and duties from January 1. After the draft is adopted by the executive, it will be sent for debate and vote in Parliament. The Prime Minister Bolojan intends to assume responsibility in Parliament for the public administration reform before adopting the 2026 budget. The reform includes personnel and expenditure cuts. This year’s budget would be based on a deficit target of around 6% and an economic growth rate forecast of around 1%.

Mercosur – The European Parliament decided in Strasbourg on Wednesday by a simple majority to ask the Court of Justice of the EU to assess whether the EU-Mercosur agreement is compatible with the EU treaties. The European Parliament will therefore not be able to vote on the substance of the agreement until the Court has delivered its opinion – a process that usually takes between 18 and 24 months. German Chancellor Friderich Merz, who criticized the Parliament’s vote, called for its provisional application. The EU and Mercosur signed a historic trade agreement in Asuncion, Paraguay, on Saturday, marking the end of 25 years of negotiations between the EU and the Mercosur states and the formal creation of the world’s largest free trade area, with over 700 million inhabitants, representing 30% of the global GDP. The agreement has been negotiated since 1999 by the EU and the founding Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). Most European states have recently supported it, despite opposition from several countries, including France. The agreement eliminates customs duties on over 90% of trade exchanges and boosts European exports of cars, machinery, chemicals, wines and spirits. In return, it facilitates access to the European market for meat, sugar, rice, honey and soybeans from South America. Major protests by farmers against the treaty have taken place in several EU countries. (LS)