Renewed Romanian-British strategic partnership

Romania and the UK sign renewed strategic partnership.

Daniela Budu, 24.03.2023, 13:50

The
Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu and the UK Foreign
Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday in London signed the renewed strategic
partnership between Romania and the United Kingdom.

According
to a statement from the Romanian ministry of foreign affairs, during the
Romanian minister’s trip to the UK, the two officials also discussed, apart
from aspects connected to the Romanian-British bilateral relationship, about
the latest regional and international developments, with an emphasis on
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The renewed strategic partnership
provides for a new framework of cooperation between the two states to reflect
the current stage of relations between the European Union and the United
Kingdom and the current security situation at Euro-Atlantic level. The document
also follows the strategic nature of bilateral relations, as established twenty
years ago, when the two countries first established a strategic partnership.

Under
the renewed strategic partnership, cooperation will focus on the following key areas:
foreign affairs; defence and
security; law enforcement, home affairs and cooperation in the area of the
judiciary; people-to-people ties; cyber security, technology and hybrid
threats; and the promotion of trade, investments and entrepreneurship. The two
ministries will meet annually to assess the implementation of the goals
established as part of the strategic partnership and to explore new
opportunities for collaboration.

Minister Bogdan Aurescu voiced satisfaction with the
bilateral cooperation, whose main pillar is collaboration in the area of
security. In respect of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the two ministers again
firmly condemned Moscow’s illegal, illegitimate and unprovoked aggression, with
consequences for the security of the entire region, as well as for
Euro-Atlantic security, the statement from the Romanian ministry of foreign
affairs also notes. The British official voiced appreciation for how Romania
showed its solidarity during the humanitarian crisis in the neighbouring
country, providing consistent and multidimensional support. Secretary James
Cleverly thanked, on behalf of the British government, for Romania’s assistance
in this regard, which had a substantial contribution to the efforts of the
international community to support Ukraine cope with the Russian aggression,
the statement also says.

During
the London trip by the Romanian official, the two ministers also opened the first Romania-United Kingdom Bilateral Forum, which
will take place annually in Bucharest and London, alternately. The forum brings
together government and business
representatives, parliamentarians, academics and civil society in order to
identity new opportunities for the consolidation of bilateral cooperation. (CM)