What Makes Romania So Important For US’ Anti-Russia Strategy?
Dec 6, 2024
The first round of Romania’s presidential election saw candidate Calin Georgescu, who is critical of NATO, gain significant support, prompting a swift response from the US with veiled threats.
Why is Romania so crucial to US interests that it would threaten to withhold security cooperation and investments over political shifts?
– A former member of the Warsaw Pact, Romania is now a part of NATO’s eastern flank and stands at the forefront of the bloc’s efforts to threaten Russia.
– Romania’s Black Sea coast make it a convenient route for shipping weapons to Kiev.
– NATO military infrastructure in Romania serves as a springboard to launch drones – such as the MQ-9 Reaper, for example – to spy from neutral airspace over the Black Sea on Russia’s activities and to potentially coordinate Ukrainian attacks against Russian territory.
– Its status as a Black Sea country helps NATO justify its naval presence in that particular part of the globe.
– Romania’s border with Moldova allows NATO to threaten Transnistria, a breakaway Moldovan enclave locked between Moldova and Ukraine, where a contingent of Russian peacekeepers is stationed.
– The Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base located near Constanta is currently undergoing expansion and is expected to become NATO’s largest military base in Europe. This expansion threatens to turn Romania into an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” of sorts that sits right on Russia’s doorstep.
– The Deveselu Military Base near Caracal hosts the US Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system, whose Mk 41 launchers may be used to lob missiles (such as, for example, Tomahawk cruise missiles) at Russia.
Published at sputnikglobe.com
Romanian Presidential Candidate Georgescu Calls on US to Respect Country’s Sovereignty
Dec 6, 2024
Romanian independent presidential candidate Calin Georgescu said he welcomes US attention to events in the country, but stressed that any attempts of external interference are unacceptable.
On Wednesday, the US State Department said that Washington is closely monitoring the presidential election in Romania and warned the country against a possible abandonment of its pro-European course. The United States also expressed concern over a report by the Romanian Supreme Council for National Defense, which alleged Russian cyberactivity around the country’s election process.
“Of course, I am glad that our main partner, the United States, is closely monitoring the situation in our country. Of course, we will never allow any state to interfere in the internal and democratic affairs of our country. However, as president, I will always look with admiration and friendship at the United States and the Trump administration,” Georgescu said in a video message on social media on Thursday.
On November 24, Romania held a presidential election. According to the results published by the Central Election Commission, independent candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round with 22.94% of the vote. The leader of the liberal Save Romania Union, Elena Lasconi, who favors a partnership with NATO and the United States, came second with 19.18% of the vote. The second round of elections will be held on December 8.
Published at sputnikglobe.com
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