US-Romania Strategic Partnership
US vice-president Joe Biden Tuesday received Romanias PM Dacian Ciolos at the White House.
Daniela Budu, 25.05.2016, 13:45
During a trip to the US, the Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos met Vice-president Joe Biden in Washington. The two officials discussed some of the main aspects on the bilateral agenda, while emphasising their shared interest in the consolidation of the Strategic Partnership, which forms the basis of Romanian-American cooperation. Ciolos and Biden expressed their satisfaction with the excellent level of security and defence cooperation and said there were good premises for its consolidation.
Dacian Ciolos: “We have requested support from the United States and have been promised that we would be supported with respect to the consolidation of the Black Sea cooperation, more specifically high level navy cooperation. We have explained the actions we have already taken in cooperation with Bulgaria and Turkey, and have been given the promise that this Black Sea cooperation would be supported by NATO at the summit.
Vice-president Biden emphasised that Romania has been and will remain a trusted partner and ally for the United States. He said there is mutual interest in tapping the significant potential for developing the economic cooperation. Bucharest has also requested support for a multinational brigade on Romanian territory, under the NATO umbrella, to strengthen the defence system of the south-eastern European flank.
Vice-president Biden reiterated his countrys commitment to strengthen security and defence in the Euro-Atlantic area, both on a bilateral level and in the allied context. He welcomed Romanias active involvement in efforts to prevent and combat the security risks and challenges facing the North-Atlantic Alliance.
Speaking about the preparations for the NATO Summit to be hosted by Warsaw in July, Prime Minister Ciolos highlighted the security and defence aspects of particular interest for Romania, and the countrys position vis-à-vis the main subjects to be discussed at the summit. The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of developing economic ties, with an emphasis on the development of American investments in Romania.
Dacian Ciolos: “We have the support of the White House in this respect, and this is something we have in fact discussed in Detroit, at the Ford headquarters, as well as with Commerce Secretary Pritzker. We have a roadmap supported by the US to develop financial instruments for small and medium sized companies and to improve the management of state-owned companies.
Last but not least, the talks were an opportunity for Romania to tackle the Visa Waiver programme that would allow Romanian citizens to travel visa-free to the US. Prime Minister Ciolos said the two sides would work together to find a solution as soon as possible.
