Armament and Transatlantic Relationships: The Romanian Perspective

Romania’s transatlanticist and European identities are two sides of the same coin. They define the strategic priorities in Romania’s foreign, security and defence policy. This is the reason why Romania feels trapped between a rock and a hard place in times of transatlantic strife. EU-US and EU-NATO cooperation are inherent to Romanian strategic interest, precisely as it feels Russia’s offensive military activities breathing down its neck. Though a supporter and active contributor to recent EU defence initiatives from the outset, Romania also places high value upon its partnership with the US – as their track record of bilateral defence cooperation and procurement reveal. Since both European and Euro-Atlantic integration are in its strategic interest, this paper pleads for a more confident Romanian voice on the international stage, one that will allow it to serve as a key transatlantic bridge builder…