Romania Pushes NATO Partners to Bolster Black Sea Security

The Romanian Minister of Defense called on Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey to expand their joint Black Sea demining task force, adding to its duties the patrolling of energy infrastructure and trade routes to protect them from possible Russian attacks.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to Reuters.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Black Sea has become one of the key theaters of war. Drifting sea mines have posed a serious threat to grain and oil supplies, causing damage to several commercial vessels.

Last year, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, which share access to the Black Sea with Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia, established a working group on demining.

Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said that this format should be expanded.

“This project will have to be expanded to a patrol project in coming years. We will discuss it in the near future with our allies,” he stated.

According to him, since the Black Sea will continue to be a battlefield for Russia, it is necessary to contain Russia and protect interests, namely energy infrastructure, maritime trade, and freedom of navigation.

Romania has a 650-kilometer land border with Ukraine and has repeatedly experienced Russian drone debris falling on its territory. In the Black Sea, according to Mosteanu, there are almost daily attempts to jam GPS signals, probably from Russia, although Moscow traditionally rejects such accusations.

Romania is expected to become the EU's largest gas producer and a net exporter by 2027 thanks to the completion of a large-scale project on the Black Sea shelf. The country has already purchased a light military ship from Turkey, but the procurement of more small military ships or corvettes could take years.

It is reported that Romania actively supports Ukraine by providing military assistance, but its financial commitments to new NATO mechanisms may be limited due to internal economic problems.

Minister Mosteanu noted that Romania is currently trying to reduce the highest budget deficit in the EU. As a result, the country is unlikely to contribute to NATO's new funding mechanism, the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).

At the same time, Romania has transferred a Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine, is training Ukrainian fighter pilots, and has facilitated the export of about 30 million metric tons of grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta.

Commenting on the planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Mosteanu expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 

"Everyone is waiting for a ceasefire and then for a just, lasting peace to be negotiated, with security guarantees for Ukraine," he emphasized.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Romanian President Nicușor Dan will travel to Ukraine later this autumn after accepting an invitation from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a phone call on August 12.