Ambassador Kavalec Remarks at Celebration of 143 Years of Romania-U.S. Relations

Attending an event celebrating the 143 anniversary of the Romania-US ties, held at Peles Castle in Sinaia, the American Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec said that the bilateral strategic partnership in stronger than ever.

“Today, our strategic partnership is stronger than ever. As Foreign Minister Odobescu can confirm, we always have consultations on the most important issues of the moment. Romania is a reliable member of NATO, ensuring the security of the south-eastern flank of the Alliance. In the conditions of the war in Ukraine on the border of Romania, thousands of American soldiers, men and women, are here with their Romanian colleagues. Together, our two countries are working with Romania’s neighbors to keep supply lines open and to maintain the transit of Ukrainian grain so that millions of people far from the war zone do not suffer starvation. Meanwhile, Romania welcomed refugees from Ukraine with open arms, with tea and cake. Romania stood by Moldova in difficult moments and actively supported its European aspirations.

At the same time, our countries have developed increasingly close relations from other perspectives. Bilateral trade has tripled in the last fifteen years alone; the number of American companies operating in Romania has doubled, up to almost a thousand. Romanian scientists, teachers and researchers have obtained important positions at universities in the United States; American specialists get involved in innovation and energy independence projects here in Romania.

In short, it is a breathtaking time, with both challenges and opportunities in our continuing common endeavor:  the U.S.-Romanian bilateral relationship.  We are well past the good beginning that Eugene Schuyler and King Carol forged 143 years ago.  I know today’s generation of Romanians and Americans, and the generations that follow, have many more brilliant chapters to contribute to this enduring partnership,” reads the ambassador’s statement.