Nadia Crișan, director at the prestigious Princeton University, analyzes the evolution of Romanian-American relations, which she says have reached a historic peak. However, she emphasizes that this does not mean everything is perfect, and Romania’s priorities should be healthcare, education, infrastructure, environmental issues, and poverty reduction. According to her, Americans will be seriously involved in Romania’s energy security projects.
On July 4th, the United States celebrates its national day, at a time when bilateral relations with Romania have reached a historic peak. The relationship between the two parties has developed over the past 26 years, after the signing of the strategic partnership in July 1997.
As a former successful diplomat in the US and currently the executive director at Princeton University, Nadia Crișan explains to „Adevărul” what the strengths of this relationship are and where there is still work to be done.
The US became interested in the Black Sea region after the signing of the partnership. However, at that time, Romania was less visible.
„The discussions about the strategic importance of the Black Sea have been going on since the 2000s, even before. I remember when I was at the embassy and together with Ambassador Ducaru, we were trying to draw Washington’s attention to the importance of security and prosperity in the Black Sea. At that time, there was no war at Romania’s border, and Crimea was part of Ukraine. There were a few wise senators, like Senator McCain, but you could count on one hand those who were truly interested in this subject. However, the way things have evolved since then has changed this perception,” says Nadia Crișan.
She admits that the war in Ukraine has made Romania more visible in Washington.
„Undoubtedly, the war in Ukraine draws increased attention to the Black Sea, undoubtedly Romania has done its homework, and I think Mircea Geoană’s voice at NATO has a differentiating impact. I don’t think the impact would have been the same if he wasn’t in the position he is today and has been in the last three years,” she adds.
If there is a certain frustration in Romania, starting from the perception that the Baltic Sea region seems more important to the US than the Black Sea region, Nadia Crișan sees things differently.
„It is a subject of interest for Washington. The US is well aware of the priorities of the two regions and will focus on both seas. It is not by chance that they support the Three Seas Initiative, and they have been directly involved in infrastructure projects, where energy security is obviously at the forefront, but there are also other projects,” the Romanian adds.
According to her, Americans will be seriously involved in projects that ensure Romania’s energy security.
„When I talk about energy security projects, I am referring to green energy, infrastructure, pipelines that have been discussed and even agreed upon within the framework of the Three Seas Initiative. These are well-defined initiatives, and the fact that discussions are taking place and the initiative has gained traction in the context of the war in Ukraine is promising for Romania,” says the expert.
If there have been recent criticisms that Romania cannot establish itself as a regional power and that this role belongs to Poland, Nadia Crișan sees things differently.
„I think we should discuss the things we can achieve. I would prefer to follow the model of collaboration and mutual benefit for both allies. Looking at the Franco-German and American-Canadian models, we see excellent collaboration, and we do not see ambitions from Canada to become a leader in North America,” she explains.
Nadia Crișan also spoke about what Romania currently lacks to be more attractive, including for American businessmen.
„Rather, a good plan, a consistent plan, a continuation of the reforms that we need to see in education, in healthcare. We are still in a delicate situation, and it would be better for any government this year or in the coming years to focus on these deliverables rather than the ambition to be a regional leader. We can become a regional leader through our actions, our results, through a better education system, through poverty reduction, focusing on the environmental issues we have. There are many topics that we should focus on,” she says.
In the near future, American and European companies doing business in the former Soviet space could relocate to Romania, she believes.
„It is certain that many of the companies operating in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and generally in the former USSR are carefully considering the trust that Romania presents, and I am convinced that they will choose Romania over Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, or other competitors. I expect significant expansions of current projects and new investments. I think at this moment, Romanian-American discussions are taking place in various sectors,” says Nadia Crișan.
And because Romania still has problems, Nadia Crișan agreed to point out the most important ones.
„We know the competitive advantages as well as the disadvantages, which remain the same: the lack of competitive infrastructure, in certain areas the lack of qualified workforce, and even the lack of workforce in general. This has been a problem since the time when I was in Romania representing many foreign companies with significant investments. If we continue on the excellent path we are on today and always remember our priorities, we have very good chances to progress,” concludes Nadia Crișan.
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