Romania’s foreign policy is Romania ’s general course in international affairs . Foreign policy regulates relations of Romania with other states. The implementation of this policy is carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania .
Romania has been a member of the EU since January 1, 2007 and NATO since March 29, 2004.
History
During the existence of the Socialist Republic of Romania, Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu and the Council of State were responsible for foreign policy issues. The Council of State performed the executive function of ratifying international treaties and establishing diplomatic relations with other states. As the head of state, the President of Romania represented the country's interests in international relations. The Council of Ministers coordinated and implemented foreign policy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for implementing party directives in diplomatic, educational, cultural and scientific relations with other states and international organizations. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Economic Cooperation functioned as the central authority in matters of trade with other countries and the country's economic activity. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had five geographical and eight functional departments.
In 1989, Romania maintained diplomatic relations with 125 countries (118 at the ambassadorial level) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Romania also had trade relations with some states with which it did not establish official diplomatic relations. The Socialist Republic of Romania was a member of the UN and the Warsaw Pact Organization . In 1991, Romania took part in the Gulf War on the side of the UN international coalition against Iraq .
In 1996, Romania signed and ratified a basic bilateral treaty with Hungary , which settled unresolved territorial issues and laid the foundation for closer relations . In June 1997, Romania signed a bilateral treaty with Ukraine, which resolved certain territorial issues, as well as the problem of the status of national minorities. In July 2003, Romania signed a basic bilateral treaty with Russia . Romania joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and on January 1, 2007 became a member of the European Union . The Romanian government politically supports the desire of a number of post-Soviet countries to join the European Union and NATO.
In the 2010s, the Romanian government became more wary of Russia's foreign policy. Romania negatively assesses Russia's role in the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict , the actions of the Russian armed forces in the war in South Ossetia in 2008, which led to Romania's search for new gas suppliers to replace Russian ones, as well as in supporting the expansion of NATO and the EU to the east. Romania supports Georgia , Ukraine and Turkey in their quest to join the countries of the European Union. Romanian authorities pay much attention to developing relations with neighboring Moldova , with which they share a common historical past. Romania is trying to influence both the foreign and domestic policies of Moldova, periodically interfering in the internal political problems of this country.
Romania maintains good diplomatic relations with Israel , and also advocates a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict . Romania is characterized by maintaining good relations with Turkey . Romania is proud of its strong political, economic and social relations with Turkey, and also fully supports Turkey's accession to the European Union . The political processes taking place on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula continue to remain vital for the national security of Romania. The Romanian government stated that it recognized the independence of the Republic of Kosovo only if Serbia did so . For Romania, this is a policy in principle with regard to unrecognized states that unilaterally proclaim their independence.
Romania did not recognize the independence of the Republika Srpska from Bosnia and Herzegovina , nor did it negotiate with its own Hungarian minority in the west of the country to grant this territory wide autonomy or independence. Romania opposes the further division of the territories of the countries of the former Yugoslavia , believing that the goal of the Balkan countries should be integration into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions. Due to this position, Romania pursues a balanced domestic policy towards the Hungarians of Transylvania , and also does not complicate relations with neighboring Hungary . Romania has no unresolved territorial issues with neighboring Bulgaria .