US State Dept playing in the military's back yard?

I say that because of this press release by the US Embassy in Romania.

Combined Amphibious Assault Exercise Ends Summer Storm 2011

August 3, 2011
On August 3, 2011, about 160 troops participated in an amphibious assault exercise at Capu Midia training range in Constanta.  In the morning, 11 amphibious assault vehicles were launched from USS Whidbey Island with U.S. and Romanian marines on board.  On shore, the marines engaged in a scheduled firing and assault on a building in the firing range.  The exercise was performed by U.S. Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, Amphibious Squadron 6, and Romanian marines from the 307th Marines Battalion and Lt. Dimitrie Nicolescu Naval Unit.

The amphibious assault ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD – 41) visited Romania between July 29 and August 4, 2011, to participate in the Romanian-American training exercise Summer Storm 2011.  The training opportunity and engagement was the first of its kind in Romania and was part of the U.S. Navy’s wider goal of continued Black Sea security and cooperation in the region.

To be honest I haven't kept up on press releases from the State Dept but I do try and keep up with military exercises.  This is the first blurb of its type that I've seen.  Either Romania is more important than I imagined or there is a message being sent to someone.  Either way I would be there is more to this than meets the eye.