Nuland Starts European Tour in Romania

The US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, is due on Wednesday in Bucharest as part of a European tour that includes another three countries apart from Romania.

Nuland will meet top officials and members of the business community and civil society to discuss bilateral and regional issues, according to a US Department of State statement.

Media reports say the stop-over in Bucharest is a sign that Washington remains concerned about the situation in the region, as Romania has borders with both Ukraine and Moldova, two hot-spots in Eastern Europe.

"Most likely there will be discussions about military cooperation and Romania's efforts to strengthen the rule of law," Romanian journalist Toma Petcu said.

The visit comes as all the main political parties in Romania agreed they need to spend at last 2 per cent of GDP on the military by 2017 in line with the US and NATO advice.

Romania has not concealed its concern over the crisis in neighbouring Ukraine, and wants to upgrade military capabilities in response to any threats that may arise.

Authorities are also concerned that Russia may extend its operations in Ukraine to include the break-away Russian-speaking region of Transnistria in neighbouring Moldova.

Nuland previously visited Romania in January last year.

On January 15, she will join US Secretary of State John Kerry, in Sofia, Bulgaria, and will then accompany him to France and Germany.