European countries have no alternative to NATO, “the most successful military alliance in history,” Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday at a conference in Washington.

“Romania has strongly supported a close NATO-EU cooperation, on the basis of complementarity. There is simply no alternative to the most powerful and successful alliance in history,” Iohannis said.

“The EU can bring a significant contribution to capacity building, supporting research and development, to areas such as cyber or energy security. But a more substantial commitment to common defense by European allies must not result in weakening the transatlantic security link,” the President added.

The most powerful members of the European Union have been discussing a common European defense strategy lately as US President Donald Trump has been saying that the US would not jump to help the NATO member states that don’t fulfill their obligations in terms of military spending. However, the Romanian President says that the trans-Atlantic connection is the central pillar for international stability and that NATO members should stand united against the threats that come from outside the alliance.

He pointed out to Russia’s growing influence in Eastern Europe. “We need dialogue with Russia, but based on a strong deterrence.,” Iohannis said in Washington.

He also spoke about the strategic partnership between Romania and the US saying that this represented the “guarantee that Romania will not return to some Eastern sphere of influence.”

President Iohannis: Romania is a strong promoter of the Transatlantic connection

Romanian President lays wreath at Arlington National Cemetery

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Presidency.ro)