Romania Seeks NATO Coordination After Black Sea Drone Attacks

President Nicușor Dan stated in Brussels that Romania will formulate an official response to recent security incidents in the Black Sea, including drone attacks on commercial vessels near the Bulgarian coast that sank one ship. He avoided confirming whether Bucharest will invoke NATO Article 4 for consultations, saying authorities need more time to clarify the exact circumstances.

Dan met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Thursday morning and both leaders held a joint meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte later that day. The talks focused on coordinating allied responses to increasingly frequent security provocations in the region.

“Evidently there are attempts by Russia, not only in Romania but also in Bulgaria and the countries on the eastern flank, to destabilize societies, to decrease support for Ukraine, and our response is: we continue to support Ukraine because it is a matter of international law.”

Following the meeting, Dan said Rutte conveyed allied solidarity and confirmed a session of the North Atlantic Council will be convened to analyze the situation. The President emphasized that Romania requires military equipment adapted to evolving warfare and regional threats.

Dan linked the incidents to a broader Russian effort to destabilize societies on NATO's eastern flank and weaken support for Ukraine. He affirmed Romania's unchanged position of continuing support for Kyiv based on international law and regional security needs.