ELNET’s Forum of Strategic Dialogue hosts the first ever Romania-Israel Strategic Dialogue. The Dialogue, which took place in Romania, focused on the shared strategic challenges for Israel, Romania and Europe at large and future opportunities for cooperation. The panels included critical and timely conversations on the Israeli and Romanian strategic environments, the war in Ukraine, the Black Sea, energy and food security, and the involvement of superpowers.
The idea to host a Strategic Dialogue with Romania was initiated by the Israeli Ambassador to Romania, Reuven Azar who is a regular participant in ELNET activities, and the former Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev who is now the Chairman of the Abba Eban Institute for International Diplomacy, and who recently partook in the 5th Trilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. Partnering with ELNET to host the Dialogue were the New Strategy Center and the Abba Eban Institute For Diplomacy and Foreign Relations at the Reichman University.
Prior to the Dialogue, the program began with a breakfast meeting hosted by Ambassador Reuven Azar, followed by a meeting with members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament. The meeting at Parliament was initiated and organized by MP Pavel Popescu, an ELNET alumni who participated in one of our Young Leaders Delegations in Israel last year. In addition, there was also a very important meeting with senior members of the Romanian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, which discussed the threat of Russian-Iranian cooperation, as well as opportunities for Romania-Israel partnerships in defense, technology, and even tourism.
We have no doubt that this first Strategic Dialogue will help to advance the level of understanding and cooperation in various important strategic and diplomatic fields for the benefit of both countries, as well as for the region, and serve as a new platform for increased partnership between Romania and Israel.