On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I send best wishes to all Romanians as you celebrate your Unification Day on December 1.

The United States and Romania have passed several milestones in our strategic relationship this year. In October, our countries broke ground at the Deveselu Air Base for a new missile defense site — a significant contribution to our shared security and to NATO.

We also renewed our bilateral Fulbright Agreement, which has supported the educational exchange of more than 3,000 students, teachers, and scholars from both countries since 1960. Our economic ties with Romania are especially strong, with billions of dollars invested since 1990.

The United States is proud to have a close friend and ally in Romania, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership even more in the years to come.