When Basescu Digs into America

Traian Basescu decided to give a diplomatic slap to the United States, just like that, for their national holiday. On July 4, the national day of the most important country in the world, he refused to go to the reception at the U.S. Embassy for the third consecutive year.

Ambassador Mark Gitenstein returned the sentiment in a subtle, intelligent, diplomatic and less conspicuous manner than the blow the U.S. had received. He said that, “Mircea Geoana is the best friend the U.S. has in Romania.” Yes, this blow was for Basescu, and it was direct. Extremely direct.

When you are a president who has presented yourself as a great ally to the United States by quickly accepting one of the most important U.S. strategic objectives, the missile shield to be hosted in Romania, and for years you have been one of the most pro-American leaders in the region, but then one of your main rivals in the opposition rather than yourself is named America’s best friend, the signal is clear. Romania gets along well with America on many levels, but cooperation with Traian Basescu is not exactly perfect.

However, America is not upset with Basescu, but only wanted to respond nicely. Rather, the leader of the Romanian state is mad at America. And he wants to show that, but without spoiling the relationship. What’s Basescu’s problem with the “big glow?” It’s simple. Romania has not received the American president since George W. Bush. If Basescu does not receive anyone, you will not be welcome. Romania, led by America, is no longer quietly spearheading its’ aggressive policies of democratization to the Black Sea for the simple reason that those policies no longer exist.

Because of this and many other reasons, Basescu does not have the role of important ally, which he gave to Bush. Of course, this does not mean that Obama is ignoring him or that Basescu and Romania do not matter. On the contrary. But the U.S. is not giving what Basescu wants: the political recognition and prestige given any U.S. ally, such as French President Nicholas Sarkozy or German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Basescu, Friend of the “Great Glow”

To be clear, international relations are not black and white. Neither is competition nor cooperation. There are many levels of cooperation between two allies. With America, we have excellent cooperation in politics, security, military affairs, and so on, but those are on one level. Another is that from which you have a good relationship among leaders. A personal relationship yields prestige for you as the leader of a small country.

In what way does this manifest itself? Through visible contacts with the most powerful head of state in the world, the American president. Through reciprocal visits. Through transmitted messages. Through telephone conversations. Through common pledges in a range of political projects, such as the “democratization of the Black Sea region” from 2005 until the 2008 war in Georgia, among others.

American President Obama, after nearly three years in office, has not offered that to Basescu. Their sole meeting was a 10 second handshake at a NATO summit. Together we have a mega project, the American missile shield, of which we will host the most important elements. So far, nothing indicates that Obama would telephone Basescu on this subject.

Why? We have to go back several years. We evidently had better understanding with Bush. In particular, during the period 2005-2006 when we were against Russia and Basescu attacked Moscow when possible. But support for “colored revolutions” was an old declaration of war, part of American administrative policies with neoconservative interventionist origins: “Wilson-ism with muscle.” Direct interventions for political democratization is a remedy for American politics in the world.

At present, there is no demand for Basescu’s aggressive style. A confusing thing is that some of the relaxing conditions are evidently a retaliation against Russia. If Basescu understands this matter, he will wait a few years to start a confrontation with the Kremlin, though he will be no less opposed to Russia. And no, the statement that he had decided against a Soviet invasion was not something he wanted to re-open, as was seen later.

Even so, Obama does not regard Basescu the way Bush did. This does not mean that American-Romanian relations are cold.

What Does Basescu Want?

Three times Traian Basescu has refused to go to a reception at the U.S. Embassy. Three times in a row. Afterwards, he has sent a message about the relationship with Obama, last year simply saying, “I do not know. We have not met before now.”

What does he mean by this? The translation would be something like this: “You do not give Romania much respect or recognition, nor do you pay the President of Romania much respect and recognition.” That is it. He wanted to show his dissatisfaction with the relationship at the highest level with the head of state.

Supposing that the United States had received the message? But for the last time, what can they do? It depends. But they can be annoyed at Basescu.