NATO and the Black Sea
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu participated in Talks Geopolitics, an online debate organized by the European Policy Center think-tank
Mihai Pelin, 07.05.2021, 13:50
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu has recently participated in an online debate where he made an analysis of the security environment and geopolitical developments in the Black Sea region, as well as of Romania’s priorities in the region and means to promote them. He highlighted the role of regional cooperation in the Black Sea area, as an essential way to strengthen mutual trust and promote peace, stability, prosperity and security in the region.
At the same time, he presented the most important conclusion of the Romania-Poland-Turkey Trilateral meeting on security issues, held at the level of foreign ministers, hosted by Bucharest in April, highlighting the importance of this format for coordinating the three states’ positions within NATO, including with the aim of strengthening the deterrence and defense posture along the entire Eastern Flank. The head of Romanian diplomacy also drew attention to the frozen or protracted conflicts in the region, which can become active at any time, with detrimental consequences for the local population. He explained that such conflicts perpetuated a permanent state of tension and instability, leading to the violation of fundamental rights and causing major economic and social damage.
The Romanian Foreign Minister also drew attention to the challenges that these conflicts bring to the rules-based international order and the democratic transition of the states in the EU’s neighborhood, as well as to the European and Euro-Atlantic security in a broader sense.
As regards Russia, Bucharest is worried about the Kremlin’s increased military presence in the region, Bogdan Aurescu said. Romania is part of NATO – the most successful and strongest military alliance in history.We do not feel threatened, but, at the same time, we are worried when we see a massive troop build-up and such a demonstration of military force in the region, the Romanian official added. Bogdan Aurescu also highlighted the consistent and robust character of Romania’s Strategic Partnership with the United States, based on mutual trust, credibility, predictability and shared valuesand interests.
In turn, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ludovic Orban, met on Thursday with David Muniz, the United States Charge d’Affaires in Romania, on which occasion he underlined the importance of continuing and deepening the Strategic Partnership between Bucharest and Washington. This is one of the basic pillars of Romania’s foreign policy, said Ludovic Orban, who also mentioned military and security cooperation with the United States within NATO. (MI)
