Update – Klaus Iohannis, received by Joe Biden at the White House
Klaus Iohannis will make press statements today, at 9:30 p.m., during his working visit to the USA. The meeting between Klaus Iohannis and Joe Biden will start at 20:30 Romanian time.
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Today, President Klaus Iohannis begins a working visit to the United States of America, where he will be received at the White House by the US President, Joe Biden, reports news.ro.
The discussions between the two heads of state will also cover the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea basin, as well as the strengthening of security in the Euro-Atlantic area. President Biden will thank Iohannis for hosting American soldiers in Romania and will recognize the multiple contributions that Romania, “an unconditional ally of NATO, has made to security on NATO’s Eastern Flank, especially in the Black Sea region”, the White House said. At the same time, Klaus Iohannis will receive the Distinguished International Leadership Award for 2024, granted by the US Atlantic Council “in recognition of his career and his role as a transatlantic and European leader”. Iohannis is the first European head of state honored with this distinction. He will also have a meeting with the president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
“On this occasion, priority topics of the international and bilateral agenda will be discussed. A special place in the exchange of opinions between the two heads of state will be occupied by the situation in Ukraine and the Black Sea basin, as well as the strengthening of security in the Euro-Atlantic space. The dialogue at a high level will be a good opportunity to raise the profile of the Strategic Partnership with the United States and reconfirm the privileged bilateral relations between the two states and the multi-sector cooperation. The visit of President Klaus Iohannis to the USA will represent a good opportunity to reaffirm Romania’s role as a security provider and active actor in the management of international crises and respected by the partners of the North Atlantic Alliance”, the Presidential Administration sent.
The official delegation accompanying the President of Romania to Washington, DC, includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminiţa Odobescu, and Deputy Prime Minister Cătălin Predoiu, the Minister of Internal Affairs.
On Wednesday, President Klaus Iohannis will be awarded the Distinguished International Leadership Award for the year 2024, during the Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards gala. The US Atlantic Council decided to award this award to the President of Romania for the year 2024, as a recognition of his career and his role as a transatlantic and European leader.
President Klaus Iohannis is the first European head of state honored with this distinction, in the 24 years since the award was established.
The awarding ceremony of the Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards will take place on Wednesday, at 19.00 local time (Thursday, 2.00 Romanian time), and Klaus Iohannis will give a speech.
The Atlantic Council is a prestigious American organization of the “think tank” type, founded in 1961, with a rich activity in the field of international affairs.
Annually, the Atlantic Council awards a limited number of personalities who embody the essence of the transatlantic relationship and who have contributed to its consolidation, in all its dimensions (political, economic, security and defense, art, humanitarian activities, etc.).
Among the personalities who have been awarded, over time, The Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards are the presidents of the United States of America George W. Bush (2018), William J. Clinton (2010) and George HW Bush (2009), the vice president USA Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (2011) – current US President, European Commission Presidents Ursula von der Leyen (2021) and Jose Manuel Barroso (2014), Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (2022), German Chancellor Helmut Kohl ( 2009), British Prime Minister Tony Blair (2008), as well as other heads of state and government or leaders of international organizations.
On Thursday, at 11:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. Romanian time), Klaus Iohannis will have a meeting with the president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
According to the White House, President Joe Biden and the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, will celebrate Romania’s 20th anniversary as a member of the NATO Alliance. Thus, President Biden will thank Iohannis for hosting American soldiers in Romania and will recognize the multiple contributions that Romania, “an unconditional ally of NATO, has made to security on NATO’s Eastern Flank, especially in the Black Sea region “.
“The two leaders will emphasize their constant support for Ukraine, which continues to defend itself against Russian aggression. They will also review the areas in which Romania and the United States collaborate, including energy, economic cooperation and shared democratic values.” , says the White House.
