WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden hosted Klaus Iohannisthe president of Romaniaon Tuesday at the White House, with the two leaders celebrating their joint cooperation on issues including international security, the economy and continued support for Ukraine.
The meeting in the Oval Office was intended to mark Romania’s two decades as a member of NATO, according to the White House.
At the beginning of the meeting, Biden joked that he defended Romania’s membership in NATO when he was a senator “180 years ago” and said that the alliance was stronger for the country’s inclusion. Biden noted that Romanian and American troops fought and trained side by side and praised Romania for “stepping up” to help. Ukraine defending against Russian invasion.
“The United States is committed to supporting you,” Biden told Iohannis.
In turn, Iohannis thanked Biden for welcoming him and called the transatlantic alliance “a cornerstone of our democratic way of life”. He said he intended to make progress toward a visa waiver for Romanian travelers to the U.S., but that the most important issue was “finding a way to restore peace” in Europe and ensuring that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not win. .
