The US cut Romania from the Visa Waiver program after the annulment of the December 2024 elections, shows a document of the Trump Administration
Romania was excluded from the US visa exemption program due to the cancellation of the presidential elections that should have taken place on December 8, an internal document of the Trump Administration shows.
An internal document revealed the reason for Romania's exclusion from Visa Waiver
US Department of Internal Security (DHS) announced in March that Romania has lost access to the visa exemption program, partly to “Ensures the security of borders and immigration”. But an internal memory, previously unreported, of the National Security Council (NSC), obtained by journalists, showed that the Trump administration also took into account another factor: the failure of Romania to respect what the White House considers to be democratic norms, after canceling an electoral election last year, writes Politico.
Internal tensions in the US on the subject of Romania's exclusion
The document entitled “Summary of conclusions”result from the meeting of the Committee for Coordination of NSC policies on March 14, shows that there have been some internal dissensions related to this decision.
The US Embassy in Bucharest said that “Eliminating Romania from the visa exemption program could affect the image of the United States”according to him. However, the committee, headed by the senior director of NSC for Europe and Eurasia, Andrew Peek, stressed that it is important that Romania “To respect the democratic process and to organize free, correct and transparent choices.”
The meeting was convened to determine how the administration can contribute to a “Wider effort to prevent the degradation of democratic norms and practices in Europe, as a whole”according to the memory.
How Americans justify the exclusion from the program
“Protecting the integrity of our immigration and visa system is essential for national security”said an official from the White House for NSD. “There are strict requirements to benefit from the visa exemption program, and it was not clear if Romania really met them when the Biden administration hastened the process in its last days. We also have separate concerns about anti -democratic actions, including the use of the law against certain opinions.”
DHS spokesman, Tricia McLaughlin, said in a statement that “Appreciates the close partnership with Romania over the years to strengthen security cooperation” and that the country could be considered again for the program in the future.
A spokesman for the Romanian Embassy stated, in a statement, that such considerations regarding democratic norms “They were not part of our dialogue with American officials” And that “Based on the evaluation of American agencies that led to the designation of Romania as an eligible country for VWP, Romania has met the statutory requirements of the program.”
“Romania reiterates its full availability to engage in discussions with the United States, as close strategic partners, regarding ways to address this issue in the future.”added the spokesman. “The decision to prohibit the candidacy of Mr. Călin Georgescu was taken within the constitutional existing by an independent authority – not by the Government of Romania.”
