Biden Reassures Romanians of US Backing

US Vice-President Joe Biden on Tuesday arrived in Romania to reassure leaders of America’s continuing commitment in the face of Russia’s growing military assertiveness.

“It’s an obligation for us to stay close to you so, in the name of the US President, I should say, you can count on us,” Biden said shortly after he arrived in Bucharest.

"The aggression in Crimea reminds us why we need NATO. Europe's borders should never again be changed at the point of a gun," he said, referring to Russia's recent annexation of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine, "which is why we continue to condemn Russia's occupation of Crimea."

Biden is to have talks with President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Victor Ponta and discuss deepening economic ties, strengthening democratic institutions and ongoing efforts to bolster Europe's energy security.

Biden’s visit takes place in a tense context caused by the crisis in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations between the Russia and the Western community.

NATO-member Romania is one of Washington’s strongest supporters among the ex-Communist countries of Eastern Europe.

Earlier this month, Romania urged the US and NATO to boost their military presence in the country to shore up stability in the Black Sea region.

The US has already said it plans to deploy 600 more marines in southeastern Romania at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Airport.

Following the new deployment, the total size of the US military presence in Romania will reach 1,600 troops. Mihail Kogalniceanu airport became a major US military base in 2007.

Romania, which has a 694km-long border with Ukraine, has been among the strongest regional backers of Western sanctions against Russia ever since it annexed...