Romania has fulfilled all the conditions for the abolition of visas for the US, but the decision depends entirely on the administration of President Donald Trump. This was stated by the Romanian ambassador to Washington, Andrei Muraru, in an interview with Digi 24 TV, BTA reports.
According to expectations, from March 31 this year, the visa regime for Romanian citizens traveling to the US for business or tourism for a period of up to 90 days was to be abolished. Just days before this date - on March 25 - the US Department of Homeland Security announced a freeze on the process. The statement said the US government was reviewing Romania's inclusion in the visa-free travel program to ensure compliance with strict security requirements.
In the same interview, Muraru stressed that the decision was “entirely sovereign and up to the administration in Washington“.
“Romania has met absolutely all the conditions. The responsibility for this decision belongs to the current administration, and the solution can only come from here - from Washington," he stressed, adding that the Romanian side is ready to cooperate in all possible ways.
The ambassador specified that there is no specific deadline for reviewing the issue, but assured that Romania meets all the standards provided for in American legislation.
Muraru also indicated that the Romanian side is in constant contact with the new teams of the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to support the reassessment. Meetings are being held with representatives at various levels of the US administration - including President Trump's security team, Vice President J.D. Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Controversial emissaries and diplomatic hesitation
Regarding Prime Minister Marcel Çolacu's initiative to send emissaries to assist in the process, the ambassador commented that this is not a new idea, but expressed doubts about its effectiveness.
“I hope that those who authorized this formula have prepared a clear strategy and have reasonable expectations“, he said.
He added that in other countries sometimes have private sector or politically influential individuals cooperating unofficially, but this is usually not done publicly.
After the announcement of the visa freeze, Prime Minister Çolacu announced that two emissaries would visit the United States to discuss the issue with representatives of the Trump administration. One of them is businessman Dragos Spruncea, who has lived in the United States since 2002 and runs several transport companies with over 350 employees.
Statements by Spruncea in an interview with Digi 24, including comments on the topic of the war in Ukraine, have sparked public discontent in Romania and even calls for the prime minister to resign. In the interview, he stated that French President Emmanuel Macron wanted the conflict to continue, which provoked sharp reactions.
In response, Çolacu stressed on “Facebook“ that Dragos Sprăncăna is not an official emissary of the government and his statements do not reflect Romania's official position, BTA reports.