Romania’s postponement of a response to President Donald Trump’s February 19 Peace Council invitation raises questions about relations with the United States. Experts believe that although a participation would be beneficial, the bilateral relationship goes beyond this one-off decision.
Present at the European Council, President Nicușor Dan declared that Romania, like other European states, would have observer status within the Peace Council established by American President Donald Trump, in a context in which overseas partners must clarify the role that observers can play, and a decision on Romania’s participation in the Peace Council will be taken later.
“Because it exists at this moment, and I estimate that many months from this moment there will be inconsistencies between the Charter of this organization and the International Charter to which we are a party, we cannot have any other status than that of observer”. explains the head of state.
The talks were expected to be completed this week, but the wait raises new questions about US-Romanian relations. The Romanian Presidential Administration announced since last year the organization of a meeting in the USA between President Nicușor Dan and American President Donald Trump, but this has not taken place so far, in a context in which the foreign policy analyst, Radu Magdin, points out that the head of state needs a successful visit to Washington, recalling the efforts of the last months:
“I think that Romania must look after its national interest. And its national interest is to have a privileged relationship with the United States. We have worked a lot to try to get closer to the Americans and after that to keep this relationship as warm and as close as possible. Consequently, regardless of who is leading politics in Washington and regardless of the exoticism of certain proposals, we must think if and when it is in our interest, including contextually, to move forward.”
“I think it is difficult for Nicușor Dan to have a successful visit to Washington in the coming period if, in the view of the Trump administration, he will not also help the Americans when they need to show that they have a number of countries with them in certain projects promoted as strategic” – Radu Magdin, foreign policy analyst
The fate of a visit to Washington could be sealed, depending on Romania’s answer, he believes: “I cannot fail to notice the fact that it is important for the president of Romania, politically, including at home, to be seen as being endorsed by the American administration and having a good relationship with the American administration. And I think it is difficult for him to have a successful visit to Washington in the coming period, if, in the view of the Trump administration, he will not also help the Americans when they need to show that they have a number of countries with them in certain projects promoted as strategic”.
From this perspective, the analyst explains that the president Nicușor Dan “he needs a successful visit to Washington,” context in which it would be “wise” to go “rather positive towards the Trump administration”which would be appreciated.
Former Foreign Minister: Romania does not have the restrictions of other states
For his part, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emil Hurezeanu, explains to “Adevărul” that Poland and Germany are prevented by their own legislation from being part of an alliance like this Peace Council. “We do not have these restrictions. I bet on the lucidity and responsibility of the Romanian political leaders that, taking such a decision, they assume this position to the end”points out the former minister.
The former head of diplomacy also indicates that “Romania’s relationship with the USA is not limited only to the proposal of Romania’s participation in the Peace Council, respectively the postponement of a Romanian decision. It’s more complex.”
“The interests between the two countries, both for the Americans and for us, go beyond that moment” – Emil Hurezeanu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
A year after the speech of American Vice President JD Vance — who surprised Europe and fueled the sovereignist opposition in Romania with his criticisms related to the cancellation of the 2024 elections and their effects on bilateral relations between Romania and the USA — former minister Emil Hurezeanu believes that that moment has been overcome by both states. “Ithe interests between the two countries, the interests of bilateral relations, both for the Americans and for us, go beyond that moment, they have also gone beyond it in the field, through deeds, through meetings through mutual commitments”.
Regarding the latest report published by the US Congress, which was said to also refer to the canceled elections in Romania, Hurezeanu explains: “It’s not the full Congressional Commission report. It’s incomplete and irrelevant, at this point. It could be a variation of another version that comes out about it.”
Currently, there are no concerns related to an attitude of rejection or refusal or stagnation of American-Romanian relations, the former minister confirms. “Then we were between two turbulent, stormy seas. The annulment of the elections, an interim president, a controversial coalition government, in the sense that it was contested with a strong opposition. It was not only AUR in opposition, there was also USR. It was an opposition and, so to speak, an anti-European and a liberal opposition”he explains.
“It cannot be a determining influence regarding the course of relations between the United States and Romania” – Emil Hurezeanu, former Minister of Foreign Affairs
And George Simion and AUR have no influence on MAGA.
“MAGA itself is going through a period of clarification. There are several currents and tensions between pro-Israeli and anti-Israeli, which are developing in a certain way, between sovereignists focused on purely American interests at home and MAGA members who continue to support President Trump in any situation, even when he exceeds in his political intentions the American developments. There are these tensions, we will see how MAGA develops in general”, says Hurezeanu, pointing out that“between MAGA and AUR is not a determining influence of the AUR. It cannot be a determining influence regarding the course of relations between the United States and Romania, which take into account the major strategic interests of the United States”.
