Romanian FM Oana Țoiu Defends EU Sanctions and Warns of Growing Disinformation Threat
Brussels, The Gulf Observer: Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu has reaffirmed Bucharest’s strong support for continued sanctions against Russia and a coordinated European response to disinformation campaigns, describing both issues as “essential” for Romania during the latest meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council.
Speaking on Monday, Țoiu said the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council focused on two key topics for Romania: sanctions on Russia and Europe’s response to coordinated disinformation efforts.
“I chose not to cancel Romania’s presence at the ministerial level, because our position as a country on the border with the war must be a clear one,” she stated, emphasizing Romania’s strategic role as an EU state bordering the conflict triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Țoiu underscored that Romania aligns firmly with the common European stance. “We are the country that has the EU border with war, and other countries, far away from the conflict, are investing with us for common defense and investment tools to protect this border,” she said, adding that Romania must remain present with an “unshakable message.”
The minister stressed that sanctions packages are necessary to prevent Russia from accessing financial resources that would enable it to expand its war machinery and continue attacks. “We need to do our part, together, stop their advance and keep them from being able to reach our border directly,” she said.
On disinformation, Țoiu warned that coordinated campaigns involving false information, manipulated images, and fake online accounts pose a significant and long-standing risk. She called for a more robust and coordinated European-level response, noting that Russia invests heavily in such efforts to destabilize the European Union.
“We don’t just need a shield of democracy; we need to invest in resilience and immunity to disinformation campaigns,” she said, highlighting the need for collective action across the EU.
The minister also addressed domestic political criticism, saying attempts had been made to prevent Romania from being represented at ministerial level during the council meeting. She criticized certain lawmakers for positions she said were inconsistent with Romania’s strategic interests, including statements perceived as sympathetic toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and calls linked to weakening transatlantic ties.
Țoiu reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to its European and NATO partnerships, noting that NATO remains the country’s primary security guarantor and that EU membership has significantly contributed to Romania’s economic growth since 2007.
“Our voice remains a European one, one that supports sanctioning Russia,” she said. “It will not become captive to hate-driven debates or online campaigns.”
The meeting comes as Europe marks four years since the start of the war in Ukraine, with EU member states continuing to deliberate on measures to strengthen collective security and counter hybrid threats.
