Romanian president calls for greater NATO oversight in the Black Sea in Euronews interview

Romania is asking NATO for stronger security oversight in the Black Sea. President Nicușor Dan says the sea will not become safe while Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. The request matters because the region supports Ukraine’s trade and affects the security of Romania, Bulgaria and wider Europe.

The immediate trigger was a series of drone attacks on commercial vessels near Romania and Bulgaria. Drones damaged ships for three consecutive days before the Brussels meeting and during the previous week. At least one vessel sank after an attack, killing two seafarers. Dan also said Romania must protect waters under its territory.

Romania and Bulgaria discussed stronger support with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Bulgaria requested combat aircraft and anti-drone systems. Rutte said NATO would strengthen its eastern-flank posture and expand counter-drone capabilities. France also pledged necessary equipment and help understanding Romania’s specific Black Sea needs.

NATO’s eastern flank refers to the alliance’s eastern member states and the military posture protecting them. It includes countries such as Romania and Bulgaria, whose territory and waters face risks linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. A strong flank is meant to deter attacks and help allies respond if threats spread.

The Black Sea is especially important because it connects regional security with shipping and trade. Russia has attacked Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea and the Danube River. Commercial vessels then became exposed to drone attacks near Bulgaria and Romania. Dan said countries must protect the water under their territory.

The latest incidents pushed Black Sea security higher on the agenda at the EU summit. Romania and Bulgaria met NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who promised continued strengthening of the eastern flank. That includes adjusting deterrence and defence and expanding counter-drone capabilities as conditions change.

The drone incidents were not isolated. Commercial vessels in the Black Sea, off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, were damaged for three consecutive days leading up to the Brussels meeting. Similar attacks also occurred during the previous week. This pattern raised concern about a continuing threat to civilian shipping.

The damage was serious. At least one vessel sank after being attacked by drones last week. Two seafarers were killed. The attacks exposed European shipping lanes to the wider conflict, even though the vessels were commercial rather than military. Investigations into all the incidents remain ongoing.

Romania and Bulgaria have not definitively blamed Russia. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev said logic suggested the Kremlin benefited from the incursions, but added that officials could not prove it. NATO responded by discussing stronger eastern-flank protection, including more counter-drone capabilities and possible equipment for Bulgaria.

If Black Sea attacks continue, Ukraine could face even greater difficulty selling grain abroad. Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian ports have already made the country depend on alternative routes. Those exports matter because Ukrainian grain is sold to African and Middle Eastern markets. Unsafe waters could therefore affect both Ukraine’s economy and regional food trade.

European shipping would also face rising danger. The article reports that drones damaged commercial vessels near Bulgaria and Romania, and that one ship sank with two seafarers killed. Repeated attacks could make shipping lanes harder to use and increase pressure on vessels, crews and countries responsible for maritime security.

The article does not quantify future trade losses or identify a specific cutoff point. It does show that governments are seeking stronger protection now. Romania, Bulgaria, France and NATO are discussing equipment, aircraft, deterrence and counter-drone systems to limit further disruption.

Romanian and Bulgarian officials see a possible connection between the drone attacks and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and Danube River. Those strikes have already disrupted Ukraine’s normal export routes. New attacks on nearby commercial shipping fit the wider pattern of pressure around the region.

The suspected mechanism is strategic benefit. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said “logic” suggested the Kremlin stood to benefit from the deadly incursions. Damaging ships and frightening crews could expose Europe’s shipping lanes and make Ukraine’s grain exports harder. Ukrainian officials have also publicly blamed Russia for some incidents, including a deadly attack on a grain vessel.

Still, suspicion is not proof. Neither Sofia nor Bucharest has definitively blamed Russia. Radev explicitly said the problem was that officials could not prove it. Investigations into all the incidents are ongoing, so the article does not establish responsibility.

When Black Sea ports and nearby shipping lanes become unsafe, Ukraine relies on alternative routes to export grain. This matters because the country needs to keep selling grain abroad despite Russia’s attacks. The trade supports Ukraine and supplies markets in Africa and the Middle East.

The article gives the reason for the switch but does not provide a full list of routes. It says Russia has attacked Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea and the Danube River, leaving Ukraine dependent on alternatives. It also says those attacks exposed European shipping lanes to further danger. The text therefore establishes the need for alternatives without naming each one.

The route problem remains tied to security. Drones damaged commercial vessels near Bulgaria and Romania, and one ship sank after an attack. If attacks continue, Ukraine’s alternative networks may face more pressure. NATO and regional governments are seeking stronger protection, but the article does not state which route will carry most exports next.

NATO deterrence aims to discourage attacks by showing that the alliance is prepared to protect its members. Collective defence means an attack or serious threat against one ally becomes a concern for the wider alliance. Together, these ideas reassure countries such as Romania and Bulgaria and make hostile action riskier.

Counter-drone systems add a practical layer. They are designed to detect, track and stop drones before they damage ships, cross borders or threaten territory. The article reports frequent drone incursions into Romania and attacks on commercial vessels near Romania and Bulgaria. Bulgaria therefore requested combat aircraft and anti-drone systems.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance would strengthen its eastern-flank posture and expand counter-drone capabilities. NATO also plans to adjust deterrence and defence as needed. The article does not describe particular systems or promise that every attack will be prevented, but it shows allies building a stronger regional response.