Bogdan Aurescu, state secretary in the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE), has talked with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland about the necessity to increase US and NATO presence in Romania and other allied states in Eastern Europe, according to an official statement of MAE. Aurescu also expressed his hope that the US will soon name a new ambassador in Romania.

Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean also called for more NATO troops in Romania and Eastern Europe, in an interview for AFP.

Duane Butcher, Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Bucharest, said on Thursday (April 10) that US and NATO will protect Romania. On the same day, NATO published photos that show that about 35,000 to 40,000 Russian soldiers are stationed along the Ukrainian border, according to AFP. Moscow officials however said the pictures date back from August 2013.

editor@romania-insider.com