The issue of Bessarabia in Romania–Soviet Union relations was originally avoided in the 1950s, but as Romania began to distance itself from the Soviet Union, the issue of Bessarabia was brought up in Romanian public discourse (especially in a historical context) whenever relations between the two countries soured. Despite the fact that the Moldavian SSR had a Romanian majority, Romania never had strident claims against the Soviet Union, as the Soviets could use economic sanctions or even threaten invasion.