At the anniversary celebration in Bucharest, David Carstens made the case for elevating commercial diplomacy alongside the well-established defense partnership between the two nations.
David Carstens, CEO of Carstens Consulting Global, attended the celebration of the 145th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and the United States, hosted in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defence — Romania and the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.
Carstens used the occasion to address recent rhetoric questioning what Romania contributes to the relationship, laying out six concrete dimensions of the partnership. Romania hosts the Aegis Ashore missile defense site at Deveselu, part of the U.S. and NATO shield against Iran. It permits U.S. forces to use its bases for rotations, training, and forward logistics. It has approved U.S. troop, aircraft, and equipment deployments supporting Middle East operations. It has deployed its own forces to coalition missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia, losing 26 soldiers in those operations. It meets and exceeds NATO defense spending targets, having committed 2.5% of GDP and aiming for 5%, with major U.S. systems including Patriot, HIMARS, F-16s, and Naval Strike Missiles already fielded — and with M1A2 Abrams tanks and F-35s under contract. It also shares intelligence with the United States at a level unprecedented on NATO’s eastern flank.
The next phase of the relationship, Carstens argued, should expand beyond defense into commercial diplomacy. Romania, he noted, offers energy resources, rare earth potential, a strategic position on the Middle Corridor through the Port of Constanța, a leading role in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, and a growing technology sector — all backed by an educated workforce and shared Western values.
Carstens summarized the broader point this way: “Of all the things you can rush to the battlefield during conflict, relationships are not one of them. Nations must build, honor, trust, and value relationships if they wish to call on their allies during times of national crisis.”
The event was supported by sponsors LUNOX HR International and BlueSpace Technology.