“Romania is not vital for the USA”. Advisor to the president Nicușor Dan, about the relationship with Washington
Although it is not “vital” in the current global context, Romania is, however, “relevant” and we can see this through the presence of the Deveselui shield or the request to contribute to the efforts in Iran by hosting some troops and equipment, says Marius Lazurca, presidential advisor for national security and foreign policy, in an interview for TVR International.
He explained that Europe is also not “vital” as the United States has shifted its focus to the Indo-Pacific area.
“Global geopolitical realities are evolving,” said the adviser to the president, Nicușor Dan, when he was asked if Romania is vital for the US, from a strategic point of view, in an interview for TVR International, which will be broadcast on Wednesday evening.
He explained that these geopolitical realities “depend on some objective elements”, such as “which regions of the globe produce a more accelerated GDP, which areas arm themselves more convincingly, which are growing from a demographic point of view, which are the areas where industries advance more dynamically”.
“Therefore, it is not accidental or discretionary that starting with President Obama, the US has declared its interest in focusing its security policies on the Indo-Pacific area. So, no. I am afraid that Romania is not vital for the US”, replied Marius Lazurca.
The US is withdrawing troops from Europe
The presidential adviser's statement comes as the Pentagon announced Friday that it is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany and redeploying them to the United States or other areas abroad, according to The New York Times.
The new measures will bring US military forces in Europe back to the level they were in 2022, before Russia launched the war against Ukraine, Pentagon officials said.
Similar to Friday's decision, the US also decided in October 2025 that it will reduce its troop presence in Romania, after a battalion from the rotational brigade assigned to NATO's southeastern flank will no longer be sent to the Mihail Kogălniceanu base.
However, after the outbreak of the Iran war, the United States requested and received permission to send approximately 400-500 military personnel to Romania, along with observation equipment, drones, and aerial refueling aircraft.
Marius Lazurca: Romania is relevant for the USA
In the TVR interview, the presidential adviser said that our country is “equally relevant” to the US.
“The demonstration is easy to make – Romania, and no one else, hosts the anti-missile shield at Deveselu, Romania, and no one else, hosts a significant contingent of American troops, Romania, and no one else, was asked to contribute – and we did – to the US war effort against Iran. The examples are numerous and everyone knows them,” he added.
Nicușor's adviser Dan said that Romania can be more ambitious in this regard and become more important to the US than it is currently, specifying that the president intends to do so.
What Nicușor Dan said about the relationship with the USA
The consolidation of the Romania-USA Strategic Partnership was the subject of a discussion held at the beginning of the week by President Nicușor Dan and the Secretary of the US Land Forces, Dan Driscoll. According to the president, the two sides agreed on the need to intensify cooperation in the defense industry, including in the area of innovation, research and start-ups.
“Romania remains the most reliable partner and ally of the United States in the Black Sea,” said Nicușor Dan, adding that Bucharest is ready “to invest more and do more” for its own security and that of its allies.
