Romania–United States Strategic Partnership Reaffirmed: Acting President Ilie Bolojan Receives U.S. Congressional Delegation
On Tuesday, April 15, Acting President of Romania Ilie Bolojan welcomed a delegation of the United States Congress at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, as part of an official visit to Romania.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment to strengthening the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States, with a particular focus on key areas such as regional security, economic cooperation, and the advancement of bilateral relations.
President Bolojan emphasized that the Strategic Partnership with the United States remains a cornerstone of Romania’s foreign policy and national security architecture. Against the backdrop of current geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea region, the importance of strengthening the U.S. presence in Romania was underlined. Romania continues to play an active role in ensuring the security of NATO’s Eastern Flank, working closely with the United States to maintain a credible deterrence posture.
Discussions also addressed the status of Romania’s inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program — a major priority on the bilateral agenda. The Acting President conveyed Romania’s full readiness to collaborate with American partners in order to finalize this process within a reasonable timeframe and with a favorable outcome, in response to the expectations of Romanian citizens.
Another important topic was the economic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Both sides expressed interest in attracting U.S. investments to Romania and expanding trade cooperation, taking advantage of the growing opportunities offered by the Romanian economy.
Regarding domestic developments, President Bolojan offered assurances that Romanian institutions are fully committed to organizing free, fair, and transparent elections, drawing on the lessons learned from the 2024 electoral cycle and in full alignment with democratic standards.
Regional security issues were also discussed, including support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, continued backing for the European path of the Republic of Moldova, and the strategic importance of stability in the Black Sea region. Romania remains a reliable partner within the Euro-Atlantic community, firmly engaged in defending democratic values and promoting regional security.
The U.S. Congressional delegation included eight members from both political parties: Vern Buchanan (Republican – Florida), Dina Titus (Democrat – Nevada), Lloyd Doggett (Democrat – Texas), Ted Lieu (Democrat – California), Neal Dunn (Republican – Florida), Ilhan Omar (Democrat – Minnesota), Anna Paulina Luna (Republican – Florida), and Andy Ogles (Republican – Tennessee).
The meeting reaffirmed the depth and vitality of the Romania–U.S. Strategic Partnership and the mutual determination to strengthen cooperation in defense, democracy, and economic development, in the service of a secure and prosperous transatlantic future.
Occidentul Romanesc