Rubio discussed U.S. operations in the Middle East with Romania and Bulgaria
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with the foreign ministers of Romania and Bulgaria regarding U.S. operations in the Middle East.
This was reported by the U.S. Department of State.
During a conversation with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Cioea, Rubio thanked Bucharest for its support of the U.S., calling the country a “true partner” that has provided assistance in conducting operations in the Middle East. Specifically, this refers to the authorization to use the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base for U.S. operations against Iran.
The parties also discussed expanding cooperation in the areas of defense, energy, new technologies, and critical minerals.
Separately, Rubio held talks with Bulgaria’s Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov. He thanked Sofia for its “unwavering support and cooperation in the security sector,” particularly for assisting in the evacuation of U.S. citizens and diplomats from the region.
In addition, the Secretary of State noted Bulgaria’s increase in defense spending, the purchase of American weapons, and its participation in the Vertical Gas Corridor project, which is intended to boost exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas to Europe.
As a reminder, media outlets previously reported that during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction that some Alliance countries prohibit the U.S. from using their military bases.
It was previously reported that U.S. President Donald Trump would not personally attend the “Bucharest Nine” (B9) summit in Romania due to a busy work schedule. Despite gratitude for the invitation, the U.S. side at the May 13 meeting in Bucharest will likely be represented by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Poland and Romania are seeking to have the Scandinavian countries join their “Bucharest Nine” (B9) initiative.
Romanian President Nicușor Dan has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to participate in the Bucharest Nine meeting, which will take place in May in Bucharest.
