Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec Remarks at George C. Marshall Center’s ”Changing Dynamics in the Black Sea Region”

(As prepared for delivery)   March 20, 2024   Admiral Panait, Major General Mavris, Major General Seguin, Ambassador Gebauer, Ladies and Gentlemen,   Thank you for the invitation to speak today.  We are glad that the Marshall Center chose to focus on the Black Sea Region.  This conference could not have come at a more appropriate time.   Just two weeks ago we celebrated Martisor and the arrival of spring in Romania.  However, across the Danube River and Black Sea, we marked a much grimmer anniversary - the two-year mark of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Two years of unprovoked Russian aggression has left behind a wake of destruction and human suffering.   It is difficult to comprehend the extent of the destruction and upheaval caused by this horrific war.   Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than six million refugees have fled their homeland and several million more remain internally displaced. Hundreds of thousands have died.   Just last week, Russia conducted another missile strike on civilian infrastructure, this time in Odessa, killing 20 civilians, including 8 first responders trying to save civilian lives.   The Russians have cynically weaponized food security. The Russian withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative widened the conflict beyond Ukraine. It put world food security in jeopardy for some of the globe’s most vulnerable people.   Romania responded strategically, improving infrastructure, and streamlining procedures at the ports, roads, border crossing, and rail which provide outlets for the transit of Ukrainian grain. When Ukraine rushed to move grain through Danube River ports, Russia countered by sending drones to repeatedly strike this critical civilian infrastructure. It is difficult to overstate the depth of Putin’s cruelty in blockading ports and sending drones to deny access to affordable food for the hungry.   Beyond Ukraine, Russia is actively trying to sow chaos throughout Europe, including next door in the Republic of Moldova.  We remain deeply concerned about Russian activity aimed at destabilizing the Moldovan government.   The United States stands strongly with Moldova in support of its security, its independence, its territorial integrity.  We also support Moldova’s European aspirations and the important reforms that President Maia Sandu and her government are making.   The impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine extend far beyond Europe.  China is watching very carefully how the rest of the world responds to Putin’s war.   Prior to the invasion, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia signed a “no-limits” partnership. It has been widely reported that trade between Russia and China hit an all-time high of more than $240 billion.   Nevertheless, Russia is more diplomatically isolated on the world stage than ever, with two thirds of the members of the United Nations voting to affirm Ukrainian sovereignty.   Since the invasion, Europe has taken aggressive steps to decouple its dependence on Russian energy. U.S. and European sanctions and export controls continue to damage Russia’s economic prospects, intensify the flight of human capital, degrade the Russian defense industry, and ultimately undercut Russian success on the battlefield.   The defense of Ukraine has not and will not distract us from meeting our responsibilities to Allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.   Indeed, we have demonstrated that we are united, reliable, capable, and determined.  Together, we have shown that Putin’s challenge to the international rules-based system which kept relative peace in Europe for nearly 80 years has been a strategic failure.   Despite sizable challenges, the last two years have seen NATO grow even stronger. In 2023, we welcomed Finland into NATO. On March 7, Sweden followed suit.   In sum, NATO membership has grown in numbers and strength.  Eighteen NATO members now spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense.   Romania is a leader within NATO with the allocation of 2.5 percent to defense, along with the acquisition of a variety of new combat capabilities through many partnerships.   Growing budgets have allowed NATO nations to modernize their militaries, donate excess equipment, increase readiness, and support NATO reorganization.   Romania continues to punch above its weight class in NATO.  In November 2023, Romania, in partnership with the Dutch and industry, opened the European F-16 Training Center in Borcea.  This facility is the first of its kind in NATO and is already training Romanian pilots to fly ahead of their acquisition of two additional F-16 squadrons.   Romanian efforts will help fill a critical gap in the pilot training demand across the NATO alliance. The center will also eventually host Ukrainian pilots as they lean-in on their acquisition of F-16s.   Today, Romania stands prepared to defend its sovereign territory with the support of NATO allies and partners. The country is now more prosperous and more resilient. Our cooperation on every level from security to trade to cultural exchanges has never been stronger.      The importance of our transatlantic bond – anchored in shared values – is more vital than ever.   Together, we will protect our common future.   It is critical that we do so, given what is at stake for the Alliance.  As President Biden said during his recent State of the Union address, “If anyone in this room thinks Russian President Vladmir Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not.”   President Biden also made it clear that the U.S. will not walk away, in this critical time.  “We will not bow down,” he said.    I think it is fair to say, neither will Romania.   Thank you and I look forward to the discussion.   (Source: Public Diplomacy – Press Office  U.S. Embassy-Bucharest)