Economic Ties · Diplomatic history
Romania — United States
A 140+ year diplomatic relationship — from the 1880 legation in Washington to today's Strategic Partnership, NATO alliance and shared defense of the Black Sea region.
- 1880Diplomatic relations established
- 1964Elevated to embassy level
- 1997Bilateral Strategic Partnership launched
- 2005Access Agreement on U.S. forces
- 2011Joint Declaration for the 21st Century
- 2017Iohannis at the White House
- 1880June 14, 1880Founding era
Diplomatic relations established· Milestone
Romania and the United States open diplomatic relations at the level of a diplomatic agency. Two months later they are elevated to legation.
- 1941December 12, 1941Cold War & thaw
Relations interrupted
Diplomatic relations are suspended during the Second World War.
- 1946February 7, 1946Cold War & thaw
Relations resumed
The two governments resume diplomatic relations at the level of legation.
- 1964June 1, 1964Cold War & thaw
Elevated to embassy level· Milestone
Bilateral relations are upgraded from legation to full embassy status.
- 1993November 8, 1993Strategic Partnership
Most-Favored-Nation status restored
The U.S. re-grants Romania MFN trading status, opening the door for deeper economic ties.
- 1996August 1996Strategic Partnership
MFN made permanent
The U.S. Congress makes Romania's most-favored-nation status permanent, recognizing progress toward a market economy.
- 1997July 11, 1997Strategic Partnership
Bilateral Strategic Partnership launched· Milestone
President William J. Clinton visits Bucharest and launches the Strategic Partnership — a framework anchoring reform, Euro-Atlantic reintegration and Romania's role as a regional stabilizer.
- 2001Post‑September 11, 2001Allied defense
Coalition contributions
Romania joins the U.S.-led international coalition in Afghanistan and Iraq, contributing significantly to counter-terrorism operations.
- 2003May 10, 2003Strategic Partnership
Recognized as a market economy
The U.S. Department of State formally qualifies Romania as a market economy, accelerating trade and American investment.
- 2005December 6, 2005Allied defense
Access Agreement on U.S. forces· Milestone
Romania and the U.S. sign the Access Agreement on U.S. military forces in Romania. It enters into force on July 21, 2006.
- 2010June 17, 2010Allied defense
Missile defense negotiations begin
Talks open on the legal framework for Romania hosting ground-based interceptors as part of the U.S. antiballistic missile defense system.
- 2010September & December 2010Allied defense
130 years celebrated
Romania's Parliament and the U.S. Congress adopt resolutions reaffirming the strategic relationship.
- 2011May 20, 2011Allied defense
FBI bureau opens in Bucharest
Bilateral cooperation on unconventional risks — drug and human trafficking, financial fraud — leads to the opening of an FBI office in Bucharest.
- 2011September 13, 2011Strategic Partnership
Joint Declaration for the 21st Century· Milestone
Signed at the highest level in Washington, the Declaration confirms the Partnership and lays out its pillars: political dialogue, security, economy, people-to-people, science, education and culture. A Task Force follows on October 31, 2012.
- 2011September 13, 2011Allied defense
Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement
FM Teodor Baconschi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sign the agreement on deploying the U.S. BMD system in Romania.
- 2013October 28, 2013Allied defense
Deveselu construction begins
Construction starts at the Deveselu military base in Olt County for the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System.
- 2015June 14, 201521st century
135 years of diplomatic ties
Both chambers of the U.S. Congress mark the anniversary by resolution; a documentary exhibition opens in Bucharest.
- 2015September 28, 201521st century
Iohannis meets VP Biden
President Klaus Iohannis meets Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C.
- 2016May 12, 2016Allied defense
Aegis Ashore certified at Deveselu
Ceremony certifies the operational capacity of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System at Deveselu.
- 2016May 22–25, 201621st century
PM Cioloș working visit
Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș travels to the U.S. for a working visit.
- 2017June 9, 201721st century
Iohannis at the White House· Milestone
President Iohannis becomes the first EU and NATO leader from Central and Eastern Europe welcomed by President Trump — who publicly commits, for the first time, to Article 5 and NATO collective defense.
- 2018201821st century
Romania's Centennial
Romania's 100th anniversary of the Great Union is marked by messages from President Trump and Secretary Pompeo, plus resolutions and proclamations from the U.S. House, 45 governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C.
- 2019August 20, 201921st century
Joint Statement on 5G & energy
A new White House visit produces a Joint Statement deepening cooperation on 5G and energy security — including civil nuclear cooperation.
- 2020June 14, 202021st century
140 years of relations
Both U.S. chambers adopt bipartisan resolutions; Secretary Pompeo writes to FM Aurescu underscoring the partnership. A virtual anniversary exhibition opens the same day.
- 2020October 8, 202021st century
2020–2030 Defense Roadmap
Defense Minister Nicolae Ciucă and Secretary Mark Esper sign the Roadmap for bilateral defense cooperation through 2030.
- 2020October 20, 202021st century
Aurescu – Pompeo agenda
Discussions cover NATO's Eastern Flank, Black Sea security, U.S. investment in Eastern Europe, Black Sea gas, the Visa Waiver Program and Romania's OECD bid.
- 2021October 20, 202121st century
Secretary Austin in Romania
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets President Iohannis and Minister Ciucă amid rising regional tensions from the Russian Federation.
- 2021November 8, 202121st century
Aurescu – Blinken consultations
FM Bogdan Aurescu and Secretary Antony Blinken hold political consultations in Washington.
- 2021November 9, 202121st century
Visa Waiver progress
FM Aurescu meets Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; both sides commit to advancing Romania's path into the Visa Waiver Program.
- 2021November 202121st century
Strategic Dialogue round
A new round of the Strategic Dialogue is hosted at the U.S. Department of State, advancing security, trade, energy, human rights and cultural projects.
- 2022March 11, 2022Allied defense
VP Kamala Harris in Bucharest· Milestone
Vice President Kamala Harris meets President Iohannis and Prime Minister Ciucă, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory.
Pillars of the Strategic Partnership today
- Political dialogue — regular high-level consultations on regional security and rule of law.
- Defense & security — Mihail Kogălniceanu base, Aegis Ashore at Deveselu, joint exercises.
- Energy security — civil nuclear cooperation, small modular reactors, LNG diversification.
- Trade & investment — Visa Waiver progress, two-way investment, innovation partnerships.
- People-to-people — Fulbright Romania, academic exchanges, diaspora in every U.S. state.
- Science & technology — 5G cooperation, research and education partnerships.