Romania speaks as an observer, not a decider

Speaking at the gathering in an observer capacity, Dan reminded participants that Romania cannot be a full member of the new body as long as its Charter conflicts with Romania’s obligations as an EU member state. The president pointed out that the Board of Peace members plan to jointly impose sanctions, while Romania is legally bound by the sanctions regime decided in Brussels and cannot sign an arrangement that would breach obligations already undertaken.

He underlined that, after several days of talks with the American side, Bucharest obtained a clearly defined observer status, which allows Romania to be present at the table, to speak and support the process, without sharing legal responsibility for decisions that might contradict EU rules. In Dan’s own framing, this is the only serious way for Romania to balance its strategic partnership with Washington and its role inside the European Union.

Core message: ceasefire, Gaza and international law

Dan’s Washington speech focused on Gaza, the only topic on the agenda for this first Board of Peace meeting. Ahead of the event, he had already announced that he would use the occasion to reaffirm Romania’s firm support for international peace efforts and its openness to participating in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

In line with that promise, his Washington message stressed three key ideas:

• The fighting in Gaza must end through a political, negotiated solution that protects civilians and opens the way for reconstruction.
• Any new mechanism, including the Board of Peace, must complement the framework established by the UN Security Council resolution promoted by the US in November, not replace the UN system.
• Real peace in the region requires both credible security guarantees for Israel and a realistic political horizon for the Palestinians, in the logic of a two‑state outcome.

Dan explicitly linked Romania’s presence in Washington to the diplomatic track opened by the Security Council resolution, saying that the decision to attend is based on supporting the diplomatic process established by that resolution.

Romania’s contribution: from medical evacuations to reconstruction

The Romanian president also used his intervention to list what Bucharest has already done on the Gaza file. Romania has organised emergency medical evacuation operations for wounded civilians from Gaza and has provided humanitarian support to the population there.

Looking forward, Dan signalled that Romania is ready to contribute to post‑conflict reconstruction efforts in the Strip. He stated that Romania will go to Washington to reaffirm its strong support for international peace efforts and its willingness to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza, aiming to position the country not just as a commentator on the conflict, but as a practical contributor to rebuilding.

Repairing trust with Washington through the speech

Beyond Gaza, Dan’s Board of Peace address carried an important subtext about Romania–US relations. In interviews previewing the meeting, he admitted there had been doubts and even mistrust in the American administration after the annulled presidential runoff in December 2024, something he described as far from usual in a democracy.

He argued that Romania’s presence on the Board of Peace helps clarify, once and for all, both diplomatically and publicly, the true bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States. In essence, Dan used his appearance and speech in Washington as a stage to show that the political relationship has stabilised and that Romania remains a predictable partner despite its recent institutional turbulence.

A carefully balanced tone

Throughout his statements surrounding the speech, Nicusor Dan walked a careful line between loyalty to the United States and fidelity to the European and multilateral order. He publicly welcomed Trump’s initiative, describing the Board of Peace as an important effort toward peace, but refused to sign a Charter that could compel Romania to break EU sanctions rules.

At the same time, he grounded Romania’s participation in the authority of the UN Security Council and insisted that any new body must strengthen, not undermine, international law. Overall, his Washington speech presented Romania as an active supporter of peace in Gaza, a willing partner in reconstruction and a bridge between US leadership and European legal and political constraints.

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According to reports, shots rang out from an elevated position, leading to the death of one individual and critically injuring two others. The shooter was subsequently killed by law enforcement.

Trump was grazed by a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear. He was quickly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents and taken to a local hospital for observation.

Before leaving the stage, he raised his fist, telling the crowd, “FIGHT! FIGHT!”

Who Is The Shooter?

The shooter in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Crooks fired multiple shots from an elevated position, one of which grazed Trump’s ear. Secret Service snipers fatally shot him at the scene.

The motive behind Crooks’ attack remains unclear, and the FBI is actively investigating the incident.​

Immediate Response and Investigation

The Secret Service has confirmed that Trump is safe and receiving medical care. In a statement, Trump expressed his gratitude to law enforcement for their rapid response and extended condolences to the victims’ families. “Incredibly, such an act can take place in our Country,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. He assured supporters of his resilience and commitment to continue his campaign.

An elite FBI Fly Team has been dispatched to Butler to conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting, which has been officially labelled an assassination attempt​.

Public and Political Reactions

Donald Trump Jr. confirmed that his father is in “great spirits” and remains committed to his campaign. “He will never stop fighting to save America, no matter what the radical left throws at him,” he told Fox News Digital​.

Also, Elon Musk posted this iconic picture on X:

As investigations continue, there is heightened security around Trump and his upcoming events. The incident has raised significant concerns about the safety of political figures and the increasing polarization and violence in the current political climate.

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As surprising as it might seem, in 2020 Romania is on the 17th position in the last Henley Passport Index, as Romanian passport holders are able to travel visa free towards 172 countries. Meanwhile, neighbouring Bulgarians travel without visa towards 171 countries, while Hungarians travel to 181 countries without visa.

This year’s winner is Japanese passport, whose holder is allowed to travel towards 191 destinations visa-free, with Singapore on second, with 190.

Despite this performance, Romania climbing up a spot from last year, there are voices who say the Romanian passport has a “major issue”: Romanian passport holder is not able to travel to America without visa. On the contrary, the Poles has just been allowed to enter Visa Waiver program by Donald Trump, who promised Romania will follow at a certain moment in the future.

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