Romanian President Nicușor Dan leads NATO summit diplomacy in Ankara

President Nicușor Dan arrived in Ankara a day before the NATO summit and held a series of high‑level meetings. He met a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation that included Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Mike Rounds, Christopher Coons, Dick Durbin and Representative Mike Turner, discussing the trans‑Atlantic partnership, defence cooperation and the Black Sea region. Dan described the talks as “very good” and said they would deepen the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States.

In the margins of the summit, Dan also met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, praising the “excellent bilateral relations” and reaffirming joint work on security and deterrence on NATO’s eastern flank. A separate meeting with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand focused on nuclear energy projects at Cernavodă and on strengthening defence on the eastern flank.

Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu participated in the summit’s ministerial sessions, emphasising maritime security in the Black Sea, NATO 3.0 reforms and the need to boost deterrence capabilities. She also highlighted the modernisation of Romania’s nuclear plant and the promotion of Romanian defence firms.

During the official dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Erdogan, Dan introduced his partner Mirabela Grădinaru to U.S. President Donald Trump, noting a “difference between politics and people” and describing the atmosphere as relaxed. Dan also stressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ role in supporting Romanian defence companies abroad.