Romanian President Iohannis in Washington: US President Biden thanked Romania

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is on a working visit to the United States, meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House today.

Joe Biden thanked Klaus Iohannis for Romania’s activity within NATO, 20 years after our country’s accession. “Mr. President, welcome. You exceeded all expectations 20 years ago when you joined NATO. Thank you for all the things you do as part of the Alliance,” Biden said.

Biden also stated that Romania was a pillar of NATO in Europe, while Klaus Iohannis pointed out that Romania’s acceptance into NATO constituted the cornerstone for our country’s road to democracy.

“We tried not only to be NATO members, but also to work on bilateral relations. Romania is trying to do its best to prevent Russia from winning the war (from Ukraine),” said Klaus Iohannis in his turn.

Joe Biden also praised Romania for the aid given to Ukraine and for participating in the NATO exercises, but he also thanked us for hosting American soldiers on the territory of our country.  At the same time, the US President praised Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis for his leadership and for providing security in the Black Sea area during the war in Ukraine.

For his part, Klaus Iohannis said that allies must find ways to prevent Russia from winning the war in Ukraine and assured that our country will continue to support Kiev.

Asked if he had spoken to Biden about his candidacy for NATO leadership, Iohannis replied: There is a risk that there will not be consensus and that is why I think it is very good to have two candidates, two candidates generally considered acceptable because a strong organization also needs strong competitions and in the end one of the two will be elected future secretary general. But let’s not mix things up – some have said that if there are two candidates it breaks the unity. It’s good to have two candidates because then new themes open up and then we make things go better”.