RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Romanian-American ties

Although the relationship between Bucharest and Washington is not a perfect one, the United States still is Romanias most important partner.

Romanian-American ties
Romanian-American ties

, 14.02.2014, 13:04

The United States is interested in Romania’s success as democratic partner, given that both countries have joint responsibilities worldwide and a strategic partnership. This statement, that is quite flattering for Bucharest, was made by the US vice president Joe Biden, who had a phone conversation on Thursday with Romanian President Traian Basescu, on regional developments. On that occasion, vice president Biden, a possible candidate from the Democratic Party in the 2016 presidential elections, voiced appreciation at Romania’s constant contribution to the NATO missions.



In terms of military cooperation, the Romanian-American ties are as close as possible. Romania has been supporting America’s foreign policy ever since the mid-90s, when, after freeing itself from communism and the burden of the Warsaw Pact, it became a NATO candidate country. Romania’s having granted the American military aircraft unlimited access to its airspace during the Kosovo war in 1999, the prompt military support for the Pentagon’s campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, in 2001 and 2003 respectively, eased Bucharest’s path towards NATO before it became full member in 2004.



Later, Romania hosted US military bases in Dobrogea, on the Black Sea coast, and also elements of an anti-missile shield, in Deveselu, in southern Romania. All these things shed positive light over the terms in office of three Romanian presidents – Emil Constantinescu, Ion Iliescu and Traian Basescu — all representing different political factions, and also over several governments. It is proof of the fact that Romania has been, in the eyes of the public and the political class, one of Europe’s most pro-American countries.



Nevertheless, things have not always run smoothly in Romanian-American ties. Although a strategic partner of Romania, the United States does not currently have an ambassador in Bucharest, after the latest American ambassador, Mark Gittenstein, ended his mandate here. There is also the visa issue, as Romania is one of the five EU member states whose citizens still need visas to travel to the US.



This thing bothers not only Romanian officials, but also European ones, who have threatened to impose similar restrictions on American citizens traveling to the EU. The Americans, though, have their share of dissatisfaction as far as Romania is concerned. In a visit to Bucharest last month, the assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland made no secret of the fact that the US is concerned about the observance of the principles of the rule of law in Romania. According to political analysts, Victoria Nuland was referring to the alleged attempts of the current parliamentary majority in Bucharest to limit the freedom of the press and the prerogatives of the judiciary and grant politicians a ‘super-immunity’.


European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Gas consumption in the EU (Credits: magnascan-pixabay-com)
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Photo: roaep.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall, 35 years ago, represented for Romanians an encouragement in their fight for freedom, and the removal of the Iron Curtain...

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall
Today in the News Friday, 15 November 2024

European minimum wage in Romania

The law on the introduction of the European minimum wage in Romania was promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has...

European minimum wage in Romania

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company