President Klaus Iohannis has wrapped up his four-nation tour which is a part of efforts by smaller former communist nations to challenge Russia’s influence in Africa. He claims the 10-day visit has put Romania back on the “African radar” and was aimed at opening up new economic collaborations.
The November tour of Africa included visits to Kenya, Tanzania, Cape Verde, and Senegal. It was met with some controversy in Romania, as critics raised concerns about the high travel costs and the economic benefits for the country. However, Mr. Iohannis pushed back, arguing that neglecting the relationship with Africa for many years was a strategic error and spoke about the need for a strategy that could exploit opportunities and solidify partnerships.
During the visit, the Romanian president acknowledged the historic relationship with Africa and highlighted the potential for a beneficial relationship, not just for Romania, but also for the European Union Their visits to various countries were marked by meetings and discussions, as well as the signing of various memorandums of understanding related to collaboration in areas such as environmental protection and agricultural research.
The tour concluded with a three-day stay in Senegal which included official ceremonies, visits to World Heritage sites, and visits to significant monuments. President Iohannis’ visits to Cape Verde and Senegal established strong diplomatic ties and reinforced historical partnerships with African states. Mr. Iohannis’s tour of Kenya and Tanzania was marked by the signing of several memorandums of understanding that focused on economic, technological, and scientific cooperation in the environment, agriculture, and areas like food safety.
An economist and investment banking analyst in Tanzania commented that the Romanian leader’s visit was not an extraordinary event and that the average Tanzanian citizen did not focus much on or care much about the visit. He said Romania seems to want to establish new business partnerships as it seeks to engage with countries in Africa and take advantage of growing trade opportunities.
Similar to Tanzania, which is trying to consolidate its position in global politics through building relationships with international partners, Romania is seeking to consolidate its presence in Africa. However, Tanzania, he notes, is operating on a foreign policy of economic diplomacy which benefits from the opening of opportunities through high-level visits like that of the Romanian president.