The Presidential Administration in Bucharest hopes that the result of the elections in the United States will not change the relationship between the two countries. The stake is to preserve the strategic partnership, built and consolidated throughout several American and Romanian administrations. Vlad Ionescu, State Counselor within the Presidential Administration, however, draws attention to an important change in Washington: a new generation of politicians is entering Congress, while many of those who have the memory of the Cold War are retiring from political life. In this context, Romania will have to intensify its diplomatic efforts to maintain American support.
“We hope that he will not change it. (…) We have a solid partnership, a very concrete partnership, a partnership based on interests and values that we share”, said Vlad Ionescu, at Interviurile Digi24.ro.
The presidential adviser says that Romania and the United States have common security interests and together contribute to European and global security. Romania is, in his opinion, an “honest, faithful, fair, predictable” partner, and in the American Congress there is a bipartisan consensus regarding the relationship with our country.
“Our partnership with the USA is a partnership with the American people, with the institutions, with all the actors. It is not a partnership with a certain administration. This obliges us to talk to everyone”, explained Vlad Ionescu.
Regarding NATO, Vlad Ionescu claims that the Trump administration’s policy, although it has put pressure on European allies to increase military spending, has contributed to strengthening European defense. The official says Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, while the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to the continent’s defense, particularly on the nuclear dimension.
“For NATO and for European defense, the policy of the Trump administration, regardless of the key in which we want to look at it, it has been useful. It has stimulated Europe to assume more responsibilities and contributed to the strengthening of European defense,” said the presidential adviser.
The official draws attention to the fact that the political change in Congress also comes with a generational change. Many of the politicians who lived through the Cold War and understand the historical connection between the United States and Europe are retiring from political life.
“A generation of politicians is a more pragmatic generation, a generation that may not feel, as we do, the importance of this partnership and its vital character,” said the presidential adviser.
Under these conditions, Romania will have to intensify its communication efforts and build relations with the new American leaders. “We will somehow have to redouble our efforts to engage and communicate and convey our messages,” Vlad Ionescu emphasized.
The state counselor says that, regarding the main foreign policy issues, Bucharest does not anticipate major changes in the relationship with Washington. He warns, however, that Romania will have to adapt its approach and maintain dialogue with all American decision-making centers, including the new leaders of Congress.
In this sense, Vlad Ionescu also invoked the existing bipartisan consensus in Congress regarding important files, including the sanctions against Russia.
