ROMANIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND THE ENTENTE POLICY TOWARDS ROMANIA IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIRST BALKAN WAR
ROMANIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS AND THE ENTENTE POLICY TOWARDS ROMANIA IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FIRST BALKAN WAR

Summary/Abstract: Romanian-Russian Relations and the Entente Policy towards Romania in the Context of the First Balkan War. The study examines Romanian-Russian relations and the Entente policy towards Romania during the First Balkan War. Although Romania did not participate in the conflict, Russia paid special attention to its territorial dispute with Bulgaria. Based on the analysis of diplomatic documents, the author believes that the Russian diplomacy had a well-conceived strategy for a Romanian detachment from the Triple Alliance and its attraction of the side of the Entente, while at the same time managing Bulgaria’s susceptibilities in order to not remove it from the Russian sphere of influence and thus determine it to join the Central Powers. To achieve these objectives, there was concerted action by Russia and France, while the English diplomacy proved less active. The author emphasizes the importance of Romania’s strategic position, a state which gravitated in the political orbit of the Central Powers, while the danger of the extending Balkan war loomed, by the triggering of a war between Russia and Austria-Hungary, which could lead to entry into a conflict between the Great Powers located in opposing political-military groups, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. In such a situation, Russia attracting Romania on the side of the Entente had particular importance. In case of failure, the mere declaration of its neutrality was acceptable. Therefore, Russia supported Romania’s participation in the Peace Conference in London, unlike its Entente partners, Britain and France, which had a negative attitude, being dissatisfied with Romania’ strong links with the Central Powers.

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