This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the United States and Romania. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Bucharest, Romania November 28-30 for a meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs and will meet with senior Romanian officials, including President Klaus Iohannis and Foreign Minster Bogdan Aurescu.
President Clinton announced the Strategic Partnership during a historic visit to Romania in 1997. Speaking at Bucharest's University Square, he said "[we] have agreed to establish a Strategic Partnership between our nations, a partnership important to America because Romania is important to America-important in your own right and important as a model in this difficult part of the world. Romania can show the people of this region and, indeed, people throughout the world that there is a better way than fighting and division and repression. It is cooperation and freedom and peace. Our friendship will endure the test of time. As long as you proceed down democracy's road, America will walk by your side."
For the past 25 years, the United States and Romania have walked that road together and strengthened bilateral relations, supported Romania's democratic development and Euro-Atlantic integration, fostered shared prosperity, and worked together to face regional and global challenges. Our Strategic Partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to democratic values, including the rule of law, open markets, respect for and the promotion of human rights, and the strong bonds between the peoples of Romania and the United States.
Security cooperation is central to our Strategic Partnership as NATO Allies.
- In support of our pledge to collective defense and our shared national security interests, Romania continues to strengthen its capabilities for NATO and multinational operations and has repeatedly deployed forces and assets, including significant contributions of troops, equipment, and other assistance in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Kosovo.
- Romania hosts the NATO Multinational Division Headquarters South East, which is NATO's fully operational command and control node for the region - a NATO Force Integration Unit, and a fully operational Multinational Brigade South East.
- In 2005, the United States and Romania signed a defense cooperation agreement, establishing a framework for access for U.S. forces, which established several joint-use facilities in Romania. Approximately 3,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Romania.
- In 2014, the U.S. Navy formally established Naval Support Facility-Deveselu, where the EPAA Aegis Ashore missile defense site has been constructed. The base houses approximately 200 U.S. sailors and Navy contractors on a persistent, rotational basis.
- Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Airbase near Constanta is an important multi-modal transportation hub for U.S. forces and currently houses approximately 2,800 U.S. Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). It is expected future U.S. Brigade Combat Team elements will also be headquartered at MK.
- The 71st Airbase located at Campia Turzii currently hosts approximately 100 U.S Airforce Airmen supporting USAF MQ-9 operations.
- The Roadmap for Defense Cooperation for 2020-2030, signed in October 2020, outlined strategic priorities for the bilateral relationship and included collaboration on cybersecurity, military modernization, and multi-domain operations in the Black Sea.
- Since 2016, the United States has provided nearly $500 million in State and DoD security assistance and security cooperation funding to Romania.
- Our countries are working closely together to uphold democratic institutions and oppose authoritarianism globally. We appreciate Romania's long-standing support and cooperation on the Republic of Moldova and the issues it faces.
