Balancing Romania-Russia Relations: A Grounding of the Balkan Crisis Through Proper Application of Political Conditionalities
Balancing Romania-Russia Relations: A Grounding of the Balkan Crisis Through Proper Application of Political Conditionalities

Summary/Abstract: This Article analyzes the evolution of political and diplomatic relations between Romania and Russia in the years 1885-1913. During the Balkan crisis of 1885-1886 there were marked Russian-Romanian divergences because the Romanian diplomacy supported the election of Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg at the Bulgarian throne, the candidate backed by Austria-Hungary. In the late nineteenth century, Romanian-Russian relations, closely supervised by the diplomacy of the Central Powers, experienced a sensible improvement. It was due to the intention expressed by the two countries to maintain the status quo in the Balkans. However, there were some obstacles that separated Romania from Russia. Romania's attitude towards the Balkan crisis had a particular importance to Russia. Attracting Romania in the Russian sphere of influence would not only have created a bridge with the Slavic states in the Balkans, but also would have considerably diminished possibilities of Austria-Hungary to counter its policy in Southeastern Europe.

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