By Giovanni Pallotta
Upon my arrival, on March 2014, I had the impression of being behind the front line of a war.
At Henri Coanda International Airport, there were hundreds of U.S. soldiers moving to the north of Romania, and they weren’t going on holidays, that is for sure.
My first walk in Bucharest was to Palatul Parlamentului and I saw the NATO flag waving near the Romanian and the European flag, in my whole life I had never seen such a thing anywhere.
These are just a few examples about what the Romanian attitude is towards the new International situation.
After 2004 Romania became one of the most important strategic partners of the Alliance in the Black Sea region and today represents the pivot for all American actions in Ukraine, not only military actions but also economic and, above all, diplomatic.
It is particular to note that all political parties approve of the function of their country; Romanian political history is full of disagreements, also today the relations between the President of the Republic, Traian Basescu, and the Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, are highly charged but in Foreign Affairs it is impossible to find a politician that is against U.S. policy and supports the Russians.
Of course, the communist past of the country represents a nightmare and a Russian reinforcement is seen as a warning but this doesn’t explain the current situation at all.
Probably Romanian will is to become the European bastion against the Russian neo-imperialism but not for an idealistic reason but for a pragmatic program; above all to reinforce their control over Moldavia, and, in the long run, the reunion of Romania and Moldavia under Bucharest.
Romania has made important efforts to preserve its presence in Moldavia, through the construction of schools and cultural facilities, a clear example of “public diplomacy” and by advocating that Moldavia will join the European Union.
Regarding economic aspects, Romania hasn’t been touched by the sanctions to Russia, its most important partners are Germany, Italy and Hungary, so Romania can continue to be inflexible without facing any exporting problems.
It will be important for the International Community to consider how much Romania is involved and trusted in European and Atlantic project or is it simply a free rider that is trying to use the situation to obtain political and economic advantages.
In November/December 2014, the presidential elections will take place; regardless of the winner, we are quite sure that Romania’s ambitious foreign policy to revamp its position with NATO and EU and to revive past dreams will continue.
Giovanni Pallotta
Articoli di Giovanni Pallotta in Paola Casoli il Blog
Foto: la mappa della Romania è dello US Department of State
