III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 628 

Celebrating the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations 

between the United States and Romania. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 18, 2020 

Mr. JOHNSON (for himself and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Celebrating the 140th anniversary of the establishment of 

diplomatic relations between the United States and Romania. 

Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations 

with Romania in June 1880; 

Whereas, in 1997, the United States and Romania established a long-term partnership based on the United 

States recognition of Romania’s strategic importance, the 

commitment to shared values, and a common interest in 

stability and democratic progress; 

Whereas Romania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004 and hosts NATO’s Multi-national Division Headquarters South East, a NATO Force 

Integration Unit, the Multi-national Brigade South East, 

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•SRES 628 IS 

ment of the United States European Phased Adaptive 

Approach missile defense system; 

Whereas, in 2011, the United States and Romania issued the 

‘‘Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for the 21st 

Century Between the United States of America and Romania’’, reflecting increasing cooperation between the 

countries and throughout the Black Sea region to promote security, democracy, free market opportunities, and 

cultural exchange; 

Whereas Romania continues to modernize its armed forces 

and is 1 of 7 NATO members to have met its 2014 

Wales Summit commitment to allocate at least 2 percent 

of gross domestic product for defense spending; 

Whereas the Romanian armed forces have supported NATO 

and United States operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and 

other theaters for almost 2 decades, contributing more 

than 30,000 total combat and support personnel to those 

missions, some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice; 

Whereas Romania is a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, provided humanitarian assistance to the people 

of Iraq and Syria, and is making significant contributions 

to the fight against international terrorism; 

Whereas, on August 20, 2019, the United States and Romania signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a 

shared commitment to developing a secure and vibrant 

fifth-generation wireless infrastructure based on free and 

fair competition, transparency, and the rule of law—including a rigorous evaluation of vendors; 

Whereas Romania has played a leading role in the establishment of the Three Seas Initiative and was one of the first 

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ment Fund, which aims to increase energy independence 

and infrastructure connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe; 

Whereas the United States and Romania have been deepening their economic relationship through increased bilateral trade and investment, and in 2017, Romania hosted 

the tenth annual United States Commercial Service 

Trade Winds Forum and Trade Mission, helping United 

States companies boost exports across Southeast Europe; 

Whereas, in 2018, as Romania celebrated its Unification Centennial, Governors from across the United States issued 

Proclamations to congratulate Romanians and Romanian-Americans on that historic milestone, illustrating 

the close ties and friendship that exist between the 

United States and Romania; 

Whereas, in 2019, Romanians all across the United States 

commemorated 30 years since Romania’s liberation from 

the former communist regime, a powerful reminder of the 

fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and a celebration of the 

triumphant call of freedom, liberty, and dignity; 

Whereas the Romanian people have made progress in their 

efforts to hold their institutions and leadership accountable in the continued fight against high-level corruption; 

Whereas Romania resides in the strategically important and 

increasingly militarized Black Sea region, and has proven 

itself a critical security ally in the region, including by 

hosting the annual NATO Sea Shield exercise; 

Whereas, during these times of unprecedented challenge 

caused by the COVID–19 pandemic crisis, the United 

States and Romania are strengthening their partnership, 

such as through United States assistance with targeted 


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funds, strategic military airlift and medical emergency 

equipment, and Romanian support for the swift repatriation of United States nationals overseas; 

Whereas, as a sign of solidarity and friendship between the 

people of Romania and the United States, Romania sent 

its first medical and expert support and advisory mission 

to Alabama, assigning 15 Romanian doctors, medical 

staff, and chemical and biological risk experts to exchange best practices and assist local COVID–19 efforts 

in care facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals across the 

State; and 

Whereas 2020 marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States 

and Romania: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the 140th anniversary of the es3 tablishment of diplomatic relations between the 

4 United States and Romania; 

5 (2) applauds the Government and the people of 

6 Romania for the significant strides they have made 

7 in governance, anti-corruption, rule of law, economic 

8 reforms, and their continuing pursuit of democratic, 

9 social, and economic progress; 

10 (3) encourages the United States Government 

11 to use its leadership in NATO to advocate for an up12 graded NATO presence in Romania, in order to bet13 ter accommodate the evolving threat environment in 

14 and around the Black Sea region; and 


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1 (4) reaffirms the enduring alliance between the 

2 United States and Romania, based upon shared 

3 democratic values, security partnership, and increas4 ing economic ties. 

Æ 


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