Predoiu: Romania should not rely on geographical location in relations with the US, should increase economic cooperation

Romanian Minister of Interior Cătălin Predoiu, in a statement on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, emphasized that the new era under Donald Trump's presidency has fundamentally changed the rules of alliance between countries. Predoiu stated that the dynamics Washington has been accustomed to over the last twenty years are no longer valid, and the US has entered a new metamorphosis process in domestic and foreign policy. Referring to his contacts with political figures who once caught the US's attention, Predoiu warned that global power balances have changed and those who fail to adapt to this change could lose US access.

Minister Predoiu argued that Romania should move its Strategic Partnership relationship with the US out of the traditional model based solely on military cooperation and carry it into the economic field, expressing that geographical location has ceased to be a sufficient advantage on its own. According to the statement, the new US administration will prioritize states that can offer common economic projects and investments, as well as ideological resonance. In this context, attention was drawn to the risk that countries relying only on military strategic importance could fall behind and be caught unprepared in the new world order.

While it was emphasized that the US has a tendency to adapt to a new order shaped especially by technological developments in foreign policy and security strategies, Predoiu stated that Romania needs to prepare a comprehensive economic project package in areas such as energy, digitalization, and artificial intelligence. The goal is for Romania to become an indispensable partner for the US not only militarily but also economically. It was noted that this strategy is fully compatible with European Union membership and that Romania's economic strengthening will also strengthen the EU.

Furthermore, Predoiu stated that cooperation between the two countries needs to be deepened in the fight against international criminal organizations, illegal migration, drug and human trafficking, cyber crimes, and terrorism, and that as the Ministry of Interior, they will strive to take relations with the FBI, DHS, and other relevant US institutions to the highest level. It is predicted that changes in US foreign policy in the coming period will also affect the geography Romania is in.

Consequently, Predoiu hailed Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan's recent initiatives to strengthen relations with Washington, expressing that such national efforts can yield concrete results in relations with the US and that Romania reaching a safer, more developed, and stronger position will positively reflect on the European Union. In a period when the US is moving in the direction of the 'Make America Great Again' policy, a call was made for Romania to adapt quickly to this new reality.