Mircea Alin Bărbănțan
Abstract. This article aims to assess the alignment of British and Romanian strategic cultures after the end of the Cold War. It explores the development of academic discourse on British strategic culture and adds to the emerging debate on how Romanian strategic culture has been evolving since the overthrow of its communist regime. Engagement with the existing literature on strategic culture highlights how British strategic culture is centred on three core principles, all providing opportunities for Romanian strategic culture as well. Firstly, Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with the United States, especially now that the country has left the European Union, provides Romania with interesting triangulation opportunities, given the importance of Romania’s own Strategic Partnership with the US. Secondly, Britain’s strategic culture is defined by its nuclear deterrent, which provides considerable security incentives for Romania, now that Britain has left the EU. Thirdly, Britain regards itself as a naval power, and Romania has been supporting over the past decades the notion of the Black Sea as a core security area of NATO, alliance of which both countries are members of. In this context, there is ample opportunity for the two countries to consolidate NATO’s eastern flank, develop security strategies that use similar language, and expand on existing economic ties. The article’s core argument is that Romania’s path of alignment with the west after the Cold War has led to a security and economic relationship with Britain that is much stronger and economically resilient than it would first appear, especially given setbacks such as Romania’s democratic backsliding in the 1990s, or Britain’s decision to leave the EU in 2016. Most importantly, the article adds to the ongoing academic analysis on strategic culture, focusing on two countries that are less prominent in the debates, the United Kingdom and Romania.
Keywords: Romania, United Kingdom, Cold War.