On Tuesday, 14 March, State Secretary for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations, Simona Cojocaru and the American delegation headed by Dereck Hogan, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs participated in the eighth round of the US-Romania Strategic Dialogue, which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

The MoND official took part in the sessions dedicated to the political-military component, alongside Iulian Fota, State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and his American counterparts.

At the end of the sessions, a Joint Statement was issued emphasizing the effects of the aggression war led by the Russian Federation against Ukraine as well as its impact at regional and global levels. A special attention was paid to the potential risk of the Russian Federation's destabilizing actions in the Black Sea region, especially to those threats posed to the security and stability of the Republic of Moldova. Also, the officials emphasized the importance of the trans-Atlantic solidarity and cooperation within NATO with a view of consolidating the defence and deterrence posture in the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance for the Alliance.

Joint Statement on the Eighth Round of the Strategic Dialogue between Romania and the United States can be read HERE (https://www.mae.ro/node/61314).

During the Strategic Dialogue, State Secretary Simona Cojocaru had a meeting with Tressa Guenov, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

The situation generated by the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine and its implications on the Euro-Atlantic security was one of the topics listed on the meeting agenda, the officials emphasizing the importance of providing international support to Ukraine. In this context, Romania's efforts were highlighted by mentioning the multidimensional support provided to the neighboring country.

Also, aspects referring to the preparation of the upcoming NATO Summit from Vilnius, the perspectives of a US Strategy at the Black Sea, the strategic relevance of the Western Balkans and the provision of support to the vulnerable states from the Black Sea region, such as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, were some of the topics discussed during the meeting.

The two officials approached ways of consolidating the defence dimension of the US-Romania Strategic Partnership and emphasized the status of Romania as an active and trustworthy member of the North-Atlantic Alliance.

The two officials saluted the excellent results of the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue and highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation, the Strategic Dialogue with the USA being one of the pillars of Romania's Foreign and Defence Policy, together with the NATO and EU membership.

The Press Office