Nicușor Dan's firm message about the essential role of the USA: Romania stands in solidarity with Greenland, but the security pillar is in Washington
The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, at the EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, January 22, 2026. Credit line: Harry Nakos / AP / Profimedia
President Nicușor Dan announced from Brussels that, although European treaties oblige Romania to show solidarity with Denmark in the Greenland crisis, Bucharest will not take any step back from its relationship with Washington. He also called for dialogue to defuse tensions between the allies.
For Romania, the United States of America represents an essential strategic partner for the country's security and we act accordingly, President Nicusor Dan said on Friday, after the informal European Council in Brussels.
“Fortunately, in this Council, this opinion was shared by many of the countries of the Union. Obviously, recently there have been turbulences or discontinuities in this transatlantic relationship, but there are enough reasons for it to continue and of course, as I have said several times, dialogue is extremely important”, he continued.
The Head of State also said that Romania stands in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, and the European Union treaty obliges it to this position.
“It's better to get back to the dialogue”
“It is an obligation of solidarity between the countries of the Union. What I tried to do, because there was obvious emotion at that moment, was to refer to step two or step three, in the sense that I tried to anticipate what can happen if each of the parties of this alliance escalates and to say that it is better to return to dialogue. And, fortunately, the following days proved me right, it returned to dialogue and at this moment we can talk about a constructive approach to everything the parties”, the president also said.
The tensions to which President Dan refers arose after Washington showed, in early 2026, its strategic interest in Greenland's resources and position. The gesture provoked a vehement reaction from Denmark and EU leaders, who saw it as an infringement on European sovereignty.
Before the meeting of the European Council, the president Nicușor Dan stated that the transatlantic relationship returned “to normal parameters”, after the discussions on the topic of Greenland.
