Ceausescu makes better friends with the military and somehow has a slightly better economy in the 80s and brutally suppresses the Romanian Revolution and other uprisings against the state (i.e. Hama massacre, Tiananmen Square). He annexes Moldova following a pro-communist coup in 1992 and rigged elections and has a peaceful transition of power following his death in the 90s. Ceausescu's son Nicu doesn't drink as much so his cirrhosis holds off another 15-20 years, meanwhile, Nicu is surrounded by the right sort of people so his incompetence doesn't tank the state. Romania gets help from China, North Korea, and in the 2000s, Putin's Russia as a useful ally in the region. Romania continues its drift toward Juche-style policies economically and especially in terms of foreign relations, observing North Korea's "success". Like North Korea, they continue their nuclear program, attempting to get aid from ex-Soviet scientists and especially from North Korea. This is successful by the mid-2000s as the first Romanian nuclear test occurs several months after the first DPRK nuclear test.
Modern Romania is widely recognised as the most dangerous threat to Europe due to erratic leadership, nuclear weapons, and repeated violent rhetoric against neighbouring Ukraine and especially Hungary.