The U.S. Embassy in Romania extends its warmest congratulations to Romania and the Romanian people on the 20th anniversary of Romania’s accession into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

On March 29, 2004 in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase formally submitted Romania’s instruments of accession to the U.S. Government, which
serves as the depositary of the North Atlantic Treaty.
The ceremony took place in the Cash Room at the US Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C. This significant step marked Romania’s entry into NATO during the second wave of post-Cold War enlargement, alongside Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Slovakia, and Slovenia.

On that historic day, U.S. President George W. Bush hosted the Prime Ministers of these seven nations, along with
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, on the White House South Lawn. In welcoming the new NATO members, President Bush recalled that, „When NATO was founded, the people of these seven nations were captives of an empire.
They endured bitter tyranny, they struggled for independence, they earned their freedom through courage and perseverance. And today they stand with us as full and equal partners in this great alliance.” This milestone was followed on April 2 by the raising
of Romania’s flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Commenting on this important anniversary, Ambassador Kavalec remarked that „Romania’s accession into NATO marked a significant milestone in our enduring strategic partnership. Over the past two decades,
Romania has played a crucial role in promoting security and cooperation within the alliance, contributing to peacekeeping operations, and enhancing interoperability among member states.”

She continued, „As we celebrate this important anniversary, we commend Romania’s dedication to NATO’s values and its unwavering support for Euro-Atlantic security. Together we stand united in our commitment
to safeguarding our shared democratic values and promoting stability in the region.”

Congratulations, Romania, on this significant milestone in your journey as a valued member of the NATO alliance!

Public Diplomacy – Press Office

U.S. Embassy-Bucharest