The United States is delaying Romania's inclusion in its visa-free travel program, reports "Politico", reports News.bg.
The US Department of Homeland Security said it is continuing to review Romania's eligibility to ensure compliance with the program's "strict security requirements". It did not specify when the delay might be lifted.
Romania was supposed to join the visa-free travel program at the end of this month, as announced by the outgoing Joe Biden administration in January. Along with Bulgaria and Cyprus, Romania remains one of the last European Union member states not part of the program.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu expressed confidence that Washington's decision is "strictly a technical measure" as part of the US reassessment of security risks.
"We will take advantage of this - hopefully short-term - delay to work with our American partners to clarify all issues of concern to the US government," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.
The postponement of Romania's inclusion comes amid political instability in the country. After far-right candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round of the presidential election, the results were annulled in December due to alleged Russian interference in the campaign.
The Constitutional Court's decision was sharply criticized by senior figures in the new administration of US President Donald Trump, including Vice President J.D. Vance and presidential adviser Elon Musk.
Georgescu was recently banned from participating in the May 4 presidential election rerun due to undisclosed campaign financing. His ally, far-right leader George Simion, however, is the leading candidate among the dozen approved by the authorities.