New Eastern Perspectives? A Critical Analysis of Romania’s Relations with Moldova, Ukraine and the Black Sea Region
New Eastern Perspectives? A Critical Analysis of Romania’s Relations with Moldova, Ukraine and the Black Sea Region

Summary/Abstract: Romania’s relations with its Eastern neighborhood reflect a form of solidarity founded on the country’s political and historical identity, as illustrated in case studies of Romania’s relations with Ukraine and Moldova. After assessing Romania’s foreign policy identity of the past two centuries, the article concludes that the country has only recently been in search of its ‘Eastern vocation’. In this sense, Romania’s integration in the Euro-Atlantic institutions (the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe) has helped consolidate the country’s democratic path. Subsequently, after gaining its membership in NATO and the EU, Romania has been re-assessing its foreign policy priorities. The article also identifies two foreign policy priorities that Romania would like to elevate on the European and international political agendas: the democratic future of Moldova and that of the Black Sea region.

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