Tuesday, November 29, 2022

US Secretary of State says he is amazed by the development of the strategic partnership between Romania and The United States

The American Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he is absolutely amazed by the way the strategic partnership between Romania and the United States is proceeding, 25 years after it was struck. He was joined by Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă on a visit to the Romanian Athenaeum’s exhibition dubbed „We, the People: 25 years of strategic partnership”, which focuses on the theme „We the People”, the famous preamble of the United States Constitution. In a speech at this event, the prime minister promised that Romania will continue to strengthen the strategic partnership with the United States because it represents the main pillar of te country’s foreign policy. The American Secretary of State also went to the Cotoceni Palace, where he was welcomed by President Klaus Iohannis, is due to hold a joint press conference with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu. Antony Blinken is in Bucharest, for the first meeting of the foreign ministries from the 30 NATO member states organized by Romania since its accession to the North Atlantic Alliance. It is also the closest NATO meeting of this kind to the front line in Ukraine.

The Romanian capital hosts the 11th edition of the Aspen Forum

The Aspen Forum, now in its 11th edition, is starting on Tuesday in Bucharest, with the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg among the attendees. The 2022 edition takes place in the context of the war in Ukraine, which has affected the entire world, both from an economic and security point of view. It is not anticipated that the military activity will end soon, and the duration of the war will only deepen the multiple crises, acording to a prediction made by Aspen Institute, in a statement posted before the meeting. Among the oficials who are taking the floor at the forum are the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Mircea Geoană, several foreign ministers from the Alliance member states, the Vice President of the European Commission, Maros Sefcovic and the members of the government in Bucharest.

Meeting of NATO’s foreign minister in the Romanian capital, Bucharest

Foreign ministers from the 30 NATO member states and the Secretary General of the Alliance are in Bucharest for a meeting focused on the efforts to continue helping Ukraine in the face of the war started by Russia. The State Department in Washington says that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is due to announce on Tuesday in the Romanian capital new aid for the restoration of power supplies in Ukraine after the Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure. Also the Secretary General of NATO has said that one of the messages from the Alliance meeting is expected to be related to the supply of new anti-aircraft systems and ammunition for the Ukrainian army. Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Bucharest on Monday and had met President Klaus Iohannis. Mr. Iohannis has said that there is a need for an increased number of allied troops on the eastern flank, as well as pre-positioned equipment. The head of state also emphasized that the decisions taken this year at the summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in Madrid must be implemented.
Klaus Iohannis: In addition, very concrete plans are needed, so that, in the event of an attack, is is known exactly who, what troops and where to send. We cannot leave such decisions for the last minute and then be taken by surprise.
Jens Stoltenberg: We will do everything necessary to protect and defend all allies. Here in Bucharest, NATO foreign ministers will look for ways to further support Ukraine in the face of Russian pressure in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova and Georgia. You have proved to be a generous host to a huge number of refugees. You facilitated the export of millions of tons of grain from Ukraine to ease the world food crisis, provided significant military support to Ukraine. We cannot let Putin win because that would show other leaders that they can achieve goals by force and it would be a much more dangerous world for everyone.

Mădălina Brotăcel, RADOR