The New Strategy Center organized a visit to the United States between October 13–17, with the aim of promoting the importance of the Black Sea region in the context of current security challenges, as well as the strategic partnership between Romania and the United States.
On Wednesday, October 14, The Heritage Foundation hosted a roundtable titled “Pleading for a Free and Open Black Sea.” The event, organized in partnership with the New Strategy Center, focused on analyzing the security situation in the Black Sea region, its impact on neighboring areas, and the challenges to freedom of navigation. Discussions highlighted Romania’s efforts to maintain free navigation routes within its naval area of responsibility, as well as the challenges posed by Russia (such as naval mines, electronic warfare actions, and the overflight of aircraft near ships involved in the construction of critical energy infrastructure). The measures taken by NATO to defend this strategically important area for the Alliance were also addressed. A free and open Black Sea is essential for energy and connectivity projects and for global food security. In addition, American experts presented their own assessments of the U.S. position regarding the broader Black Sea region.
During the visit, George Scutaru, CEO of the New Strategy Center, and Dr. Antonia Colibășanu, Senior Associate Expert, held meetings with various military experts and representatives of defense companies on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).
Throughout the visit, the NSC experts also met with American experts from several prestigious think tanks, including the Atlantic Council, Heritage Foundation, Hudson Institute, America First, and the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). The discussions focused on topics such as transatlantic cooperation, the Trump Administration’s priorities in security and foreign affairs, the U.S. approach to the Black Sea region, possible developments in the war in Ukraine and diplomatic efforts toward conflict resolution, energy and connectivity projects in the Black Sea area, and the bilateral relationship and strategic partnership between Romania and the United States.
George Scutaru and Antonia Colibășanu also held meetings in the U.S. Congress with staffers from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. These discussions were significant, taking place as U.S. institutions are reassessing their military presence in Europe. The NSC experts emphasized the strategic importance of the U.S. military contingent stationed in Romania on a rotational basis, serving as a deterrent factor amid the current security situation caused by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. They stressed that reducing the American military footprint on NATO’s Eastern Flank would send the wrong signal to Russia, potentially being interpreted as a decline in U.S. interest in Europe’s security, which could encourage greater Russian aggression. Romania’s proximity to the Middle East, the Caucasus, and southern Ukraine—areas where the U.S. has shown interest in mineral resource exploitation—was highlighted as a key strategic advantage for American interests.
The visit to the United States is part of the New Strategy Center’s ongoing efforts to promote the strategic role of the Black Sea region and of Romania. The special relationship with the United States, particularly in the field of security, is vital for Romania in this context marked by unpredictability and the deterioration of Europe’s security environment, caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The New Strategy Center expresses its gratitude to the Embassy of Romania in Washington for the support provided in organizing the visit.