US Vice President Kamala Harris in Romania

American Vice President Kamala Harris visits Romania on March 11, in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US official meets Romanian President Klaus Johannis in Bucharest at 14.00 local time.

According to the official press release of the White House, the US vice president’s visit to Romania aims to strengthen the relationship between Romania and US in response to the unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion.

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Warsaw, Poland and Bucharest, Romania on March 9-11. Her visit will demonstrate the strength and unity of the NATO alliance and US support for NATO’s East Side allies in the face of Russian aggression.

White House statement

Kamala Harris also meets Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca and other European NATO leaders to discuss a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The security protocol for the arrival of the American vice president is strict, and the authorities advise the population to avoid the city center. Also, the police recommend avoiding driving on DN1, the national road in Romania which links Bucharest with the northwestern part of the country, on March 11 from 12:00 to 15:00 local time.

The authorities involved have in view for the instituted security measures to interfere as little as possible with the population’s daily activities. Thus, for participants in traffic, there will be measures to improve the flow of traffic and, in this context, the Bucharest Road Police Brigade requests drivers respect the signals and indications of policemen. Drivers are recommended that on Friday, in the interval between 12:00 and 17:00 hrs, they avoid travelling on National Road 1, in order to prevent the formation of traffic jams.

The Bucharest City Police General Directorate

The official statements after the visit are to be broadcast at 15.30 local time.

Kamala Harris’ official statement during her visit to Bucharest

Kamala Harris wanted to thank the Romanian people for the way they welcomed and sheltered the Ukrainian refugees. She appreciated Romanians are “extraordinary in the generosity and the courage shown at this moment”.

Also, the US VicePresident ensured Romania that the US and NATO will defend every inch of Romania.

“We take seriously, and are prepared to act on, the words we speak when we say, ‘An attack on one is an attack against all,.”

Kamala Harris official statemennts in Bucharest, March 11, 2022

In his turn, Romania’s President Johannis asked for a consolidated presence of the NATO forces on the Eastern Flank. As a comparison to the announcement made after her visit to Poland, Kamala Harris didn’t mention any additional military measures. In Poland, she announced that the US would bring Patriot missiles to the country.

Photo source: Kamala Harris Facebook page