The statements of President Nicușor Dan regarding two sensitive subjects in the external sphere, the situation of Venezuela and that of Greenland, which do not offer a clear positioning of the Romanian state, especially in the second case, are explained by analysts: “Romania must be very cautious, given that we do not yet have a visit to Washington on the horizon”.
Public attention has been focused on the Presidential Administration in recent days, in the context where some topics have sparked criticism or even controversy in the public space of the country. Beyond the contradictions expressed regarding the escorting of the presidential aircraft in Switzerland, Romania’s positioning on topics that have captured discussions at the international level has attracted comments.
The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, rejected the concerns about Greenland, expressed in the public space, being asked in a press conference in Paris, what is Romania’s position on this topic, but also in relation to the Venezuela file.
“First of all, on Venezuela there was a statement by the Union, by 26 of the 27 countries in the Union, including Romania, very nuanced, and this is the position we have. You realize that that statement was the result of discussions, negotiations on the text.
Regarding Greenland, first of all, we are not talking about an official intention of the American administration, we had some statements. And, secondly, the situation is completely and completely different. It is an autonomous territory that is part of the Danish Crown and that is NATO territory, so there is no problem”was the answer of the president Nicușor Dan.
The position expressed by President Nicușor Dan, as head of foreign policy, has sparked criticism in the public space related to a lack of nuance or firmness. In fact, his position came later, in the context where there was no point of view conveyed immediately after the events in Venezuela. Several senior EU officials have expressed concern, initially following events in Venezuela and later including the threat of US annexation of Greenland.
What analysts say
“The president’s position is correct, even if it is more like an analyst’s position than that of a political leader,” points foreign policy analyst Radu Magdin, for “Adevărul”, showing that “Romania is part of the European Union and on many files the member states of the European Union often prefer to let the European Union assume its leadership and only if they feel the need they possibly add certain things to this position, without contradicting it”.
However, the analyst further explains, “this is President Dan’s challenge going forward, in a political market that has less and less patience with its leaders, which is to show leadership and direction and positions as clearly as possible and to pedagogically explain less, which analysts will do as well.”
“The president’s communication shows that the Romanian state does not want to expose itself, to enter into the crossfire between the position of some states of the European Union and the position of the United States of America”, both regarding Venezuela, “where the subject is much easier, because it is about removing a dictator, which allows a more generous communication from the Romanian president”as well as regarding Greenland, explains foreign policy analyst Ștefan Popescu for “Adevărul”.
“Romania does not have the same freedom of expression as France, Germany or even Poland” – Ștefan Popescu, foreign policy analyst
Neither Romania, nor President Nicușor Dan, have a freedom of expression in the current context, especially regarding the situation in Greenland, which represents the most sensitive subject today, “where any clear positioning risks damaging your relations with some allies”, Ștefan Popescu also explains:
“Considering Romania’s dependence on security assistance, on the assistance of Western partners, Romania cannot commit to either side. They are subjects that he looks at from a distance. They are distant from a geographical point of view, but also from the point of view of Romania’s interests, even if what happened in Venezuela and even if the statements and the position of the United States, speaking of Denmark, undoubtedly affect Romania’s security environment as well.
Moreover, the last subject shakes the transatlantic relations. It creates a crisis because there are states that generate a controversy within the organization and worsens relations between two allies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United States of America and Denmark”.
In the case of Romania, the situation is also complicated in the context of the announced, but not yet scheduled, visit to Washington, argues the analyst. “A firm positioning of Romania on the side of Denmark, without a doubt, would not be seen with good eyes in Washington, just as a firm positioning on the side of Washington would not be seen with good eyes by the European capitals, and then the president of Romania prefers to keep a distance from this subject (…)
Romania does not have the same freedom of expression as France, Germany or even Poland. Given its dependence, its vulnerabilities, the fact that we are not yet engaged in any high-level dialogue with Washington. Romania must be very cautious, given that we do not yet have a visit to Washington on the horizon”, Ștefan Popescu also explains.
According to the information publicly provided so far by the representatives of the Presidential Administration and the MFA, the meeting is prepared for the first part of 2026, the agenda of the discussions will include economic and military topics, but also the situation of the Visa Waiver program.
In the context of the subject related to the withdrawal of American troops, President Donald Trump stated in a press conference, being questioned, that “the relationship with Romania is very good“.
