Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu says that US presence in Romania within NATO is a deterrent to potential threats and also a factor for stability in the region, following a meeting with US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio in Washington.
Regional stability is enhanced as Romania has neighbors such as Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia which unlike Romania are not members of NATO or the European Union.
“We agreed together that it is very important for this presence to continue its role, not only for Romania, but also for the region,” Ms Ţoiu said.
During their meeting, the highest-level meeting of a Romanian official with a senior member of President Donald Trump’s administration, the pair discussed “production related to the military area of weapons and current investments, but also the opportunities for future investments in Romania.”
“It was an excellent meeting because both for Romania and for the United States of America. Our strategic partnership is important, both in terms of security, as well as in joint energy projects and human ties, in fact, which have developed against the backdrop of trust created by the strategic partnership,” she said.
She added that they agreed that the presence of the American military in Romania must continue.
“We agreed together that it is very important that this presence continues its role not only for Romania, but also for the region, in fact. The US presence in NATO format in Romania also has a deterrent effect on potential intrusions. It also has a stability effect in the region and in terms of our neighbors who are not yet members of the European Union or NATO members,” she said.
Asked whether there would be an increase in American military in Romania, she said the allies were “talking about an increased stake in terms of investments and in terms of developing common capabilities. They have already taken this decision, which President Nicusor Dan has announced in Parliament, to increase the presence in Romania, including as an important factor for them in the strategy they have towards the Middle East,” she said.
As for the analysis of the posture in Europe versus the Indo-Pacific region, they will most likely have the official documents here by the end of the year,” said Oana Ţoiu.
Ms Ţoiu is the first senior Romanian official to discuss with a high-ranking representative of the Trump administration. Rubio is also President Donald Trump’s national security adviser.
It was the third meeting between the pair. The first met at the NATO summit in The Hague, and then at the United Nations meeting in New York.
