Browsing by Author "Țurcanu, Mihai"

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Poland’s perspective on anglo-french security arrangements for Romania (april-august 1939)
(CEP USM, 2024) Țurcanu, Mihai
The study analyzes the diplomatic dynamics surrounding Romanian-Polish relations and British-French guarantees to Romania in 1939, as Europe approached World War II. Poland was hesitant to include Romania in the broader Anglo-French security architecture, fearing this might push Hungary further into Germany’s sphere of influence. Despite British and French efforts to forge a stronger military alliance between Poland and Romania, these initiatives largely failed. Poland’s foreign minister, Józef Beck, argued against formal security guarantees for Romania, citing concerns about maintaining good relations with Hungary and the weakness of Romania’s military. Additionally, Beck believed that Poland did not need to be bound by additional obligations, as its focus was on its own security. Romanian officials, led by Foreign Minister Grigore Gafencu, initially supported a westward reorientation of their alliance but hesitated to provoke Germany. Despite discussions about transforming the Romanian-Polish alliance into a broader defense pact against all aggressors (erga omnes), no concrete actions were taken. Both Romania and Poland were reluctant to commit to mutual defense against Germany, leading to the collapse of Western efforts to establish a stronger security framework in Eastern Europe. The failure to implement this strategy contributed to the vulnerabilities both nations faced in the early stages of the war.
Romanian diplomacy, britain and the sudeten crisis (1938) (Part I)
(2025) Țurcanu, Mihai
This study examines England’s attitude toward German aggression against Czechoslovakia (1933– 1939) and its impact on Anglo-Romanian relations. British foreign policy was heavily influenced by its ties with Hitler’s Germany, adopting a permissive and reactive approach, never seizing the initiative from Berlin – except for the attempted “Stresa Front”. England continually adjusted its stance toward Romania, France, and the USSR based on Anglo-German dynamics, which dictated European politics until the outbreak of war. To understand Britain’s policy toward Romania, one must analyze Anglo-German relations, as these influenced London’s decisions more than Romania’s own actions. Under King Carol II, Romania’s foreign policy aligned with passivity and accommodation of German revisionism. While England, as a major power, could afford to explore political options (some flawed), Romania, far more vulnerable, lacked the same flexibility. The study highlights how international power dynamics shaped Romania’s precarious position in pre-WWII Europe.