“We will discuss in CSAT what we can offer”

#discuss #CSAT #offer

President Klaus Iohannis had a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday evening. Biden praised Romania for its contribution to NATO and for the help given to Ukraine. Later, in statements at the Embassy in Washington, President Iohannis said that he had a brief discussion with President Biden about his candidacy for NATO leadership: “There is a risk that there is no consensus (among NATO allies – ed.). And that’s exactly why I think it’s very good to have two candidacies, to have two candidates who, in general, are both considered acceptable, because a strong organization also needs strong competitions,” said President Iohannis.

The head of state also said that he discussed with his American counterpart the possible transfer of a Patriot anti-missile defense system to Ukraine. “President Biden brought this matter up and I told him that I am open to discussing these matters, which means that I will have to discuss it at home, in the CSAT, let’s see how we can raise the issue, what we can offer, and, obviously, what can we get in return, because it is, in my opinion, unacceptable for Romania to remain without anti-aircraft defense. I think we will find a solution. It is a single Patriot system,” Iohannis said.

UPDATE 22:10 President Klaus Iohannis made statements from the Romanian Embassy in Washington:

• The visit also coincides with an anniversary moment for Romania, it is 20 years since Romania became a NATO state. I talked with President Biden about the strategic partnership between our countries, how we can make it stronger, to face this very complicated global context.
• The presence of American troops on the territory of our country in an increased number represents a factor of stability not only for Romania, but for the whole world.
• We also addressed the issue of Romania’s admission to the Visa Waiver program, our objective is to meet all the conditions for entering this program and we are sure that this will happen in the not too distant future.
• It is essential to strengthen the posture on the eastern flank.
• Romania will continue to support Ukraine as long as it is necessary.

Q: You have discussed your desire to go to the head of NATO:

A: And this point was reached in our discussion and together we decided to continue the dialogue.

• About Patriot Systems: There is clearly a need for air defense systems in Ukraine. Advanced systems. In recent weeks there is a discussion about who can provide Patriot systems to Ukraine. And President Biden brought it up and we said we’re willing. We will discuss in CSAT what we can offer and what we can receive in return because it is unacceptable that Romania remains without anti-aircraft defense. It is a functional one that will remain in Romania. The others that are in an advanced state of operationalization and one of them was in question. It is not a political decision. … There are awareness campaigns, to improve the acceptance rate, we have the legitimacy to hope that in the not too distant future this matter will be resolved.
• About the percentage of GDP for Defense: Romania is doing exceptionally well with 2.5% of GDP for defense. There are many in NATO even very far from 2%, as tensions rise, the measure will resume. We have to be very clear-eyed and see that our defense industries have to grow, otherwise we will not face this situation.
• Asked if he will also have a meeting with Republican representatives: It is customary for the president to meet with the administration in office and that is what we did. I would mention a few requests: important national objectives, the strengthening of the eastern flank, and that is what I have discussed today. It is not enough, we need a much firmer commitment to both defense and deterrence. Deterrence does not mean bringing in more troops, but being equipped like the world. Aid to Ukraine is gasping for air in a sensitive area, shells for artillery, and it cannot stay that way. For the defense industry we need to allocate larger amounts, but things are moving forward, if we want to have a functional system on the eastern flank, we need to have logistics, for example for fuel. We must have a supply system on the entire eastern flank.
  The war is in the Black Sea region, we need to focus more, develop strategies to prevent the conflict from expanding and to reach a peace that also satisfies Ukraine’s goals.
• On the discussions he had with Joe Biden regarding the post of NATO Secretary General: These discussions are not made public, and I’m not going to say what President Biden said. I say what I said there. There is a risk that there will be no consensus, and that is precisely why it is very good to have two candidates who are generally considered acceptable, because a strong organization needs strong competition.
  Some have said that if there are two candidates, the unity of the alliance is broken. It is good to have two candidates, because then there is the possibility to open new debate topics and there is a chance to make things go better.

UPDATE 22:06 Klaus Iohannis made a post on Twitter after the meeting with Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

I had a very consistent discussion today in Washington, D.C., with @POTUS Joe Biden, at the @WhiteHouseon the Strategic Partnership between Romania 🇷🇴 and the United States 🇺🇸, including cooperation on security, economic, and energy issues. pic.twitter.com/4wlMozkKxu

— Klaus Iohannis (@KlausIohannis) May 7, 2024

UPDATE 21:35 Joe Biden, in the Oval Office:

• Mr. President welcome to the White House, welcome back to the Oval Office. I remembered now when I entered here that when I was a senator, 108 years ago (laughs, ed.), I fought hard for Romania’s entry into NATO, and 20 years ago Romania joined NATO, and our nations have become closer and closer.
• Romania has done enormously for the transatlantic link
• US and Romanian troops are shoulder to shoulder, including in Romania
• We thank Romania for the help given to Ukraine, especially in the Black Sea

UPDATE 21:33 Klaus Iohannis makes statements in the Oval Office, from where the TVR team also broadcasts:

• We have a lot of issues to discuss. We have not only been able to become members of NATO, thanks to you and others who fought for us, 20 years ago, but we have also been able to work on our bilateral relationship which has become stronger and stronger.
• I think we have also succeeded in making the transatlantic link stronger, and in my view this transatlantic link is the cornerstone of the democratic way of living, of values ​​and how we see the future of our nations and how we can ensure the security of our peoples.
• Of course, we will also discuss the goals that remain to be achieved. We are working on the Visa Waiver program and we hope to see results in a fairly short time.
• Unfortunately, the biggest problem is finding a way to restore peace and help Ukraine and Ukrainians. We will look for solutions to support Ukraine, Romania has good results in supporting Ukraine
• We need to find solutions to prevent Russia from winning this war in Ukraine and we need to stand together and work together.

UPDATE 21:31 The Antena 3 team present in Washington published the first images from the Oval Office, from the meeting between the two presidents.

photo source: Capture A3

UPDATE 21:25 The press statements by President Iohannis were postponed from 21:30 to 22:15.

UPDATE 21:02 The delegation also includes ministers Luminița Odobescu and Cătălin Predoiu, ambassador Andrei Muraru, presidential adviser George Bologan, head of the Communication Department, Dana Bârsan and Lucian Pahonțu, head of the SPP.

UPDATE 21:00 Klaus Iohannis arrived at the White House.

Context

President Klaus Iohannis is making a working visit to Washington, DC, United States of America, from 7-8 May 2024. The visit schedule includes a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House.

“A special place in the exchange of opinions between the two heads of state will be occupied by the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea basin, as well as the strengthening of security in the Euro-Atlantic area. The high-level dialogue will be a good opportunity to raise the profile of the Strategic Partnership with the United States and reconfirm the privileged bilateral relations between the two states and the multi-sector cooperation”, states the Presidential Administration, in a statement published on Monday.

It should be noted that the visit takes place in the context in which Klaus Iohannis announced that he is interested in obtaining the position of Secretary General of NATO. The visit also marks Klaus Iohannis’ first reception by President Joe Biden at the White House. Klaus Iohannis was also received at the White House by former US President Donald Trump.

The White House also published a statement in which it states that “President Biden will welcome the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, to the White House on May 7”.

“The leaders will celebrate 20 years since Romania has been a member of the NATO Alliance. President Biden will thank President Iohannis for hosting US troops in Romania and recognize the many contributions that Romania, a staunch NATO ally, has made to security on NATO’s eastern flank, particularly in the Black Sea region. The leaders will emphasize their continued support for Ukraine, which continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. They will also review the many areas in which Romania and the United States collaborate, including energy, economic cooperation and our shared democratic values”, the White House press release states.

According to the Cotroceni Palace, the visit of President Klaus Iohannis to the USA “will be a good opportunity to reaffirm Romania’s role as a security provider and active actor in the management of international crises and respected by the partners of the North Atlantic Alliance”.

The official delegation will include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminița Odobescu, and Deputy Prime Minister Cătălin Predoiu, the Minister of Internal Affairs.

At the same time, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, President Klaus Iohannis will be awarded the Distinguished International Leadership Award for the year 2024, during the Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards gala. The US Atlantic Council decided to award this award to the President of Romania for the year 2024, as a “recognition of his career and his role as a transatlantic and European leader”. The Atlantic Council Awards are also known as the “Oscars of Washington”.

President Klaus Iohannis is the first European head of state honored with this distinction, in the 24 years since the award was established.

The Atlantic Council is a prestigious American “think tank” organization, founded in 1961, with a rich activity in the field of international affairs.

“Annually, the Atlantic Council awards a limited number of personalities who embody the essence of the transatlantic relationship and who have contributed to its consolidation, in all its dimensions (political, economic, security and defense, art, humanitarian activities, etc.)”, the release states Presidential Administration.

Past recipients of The Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards include US Presidents George W. Bush (2018), William J. Clinton (2010) and George HW Bush (2009), US Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (2011) – current US President, European Commission Presidents Ursula von der Leyen (2021) and Jose Manuel Barroso (2014), Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (2022), German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (2009) , British Prime Minister Tony Blair (2008), as well as other heads of state and government or leaders of international organizations.