NATO allies expressed solidarity with Romania during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council focused on security in the Black Sea region on June 10, following recent drone-related incidents on Romanian territory and in its waters. President Nicușor Dan said the discussions underscored the need for the Alliance to strengthen its presence and anti-drone capabilities in Romania.

The discussion came after recent drone-related incidents in Romania, including the crash of a Russian drone into an apartment building in Galați and the arrival of several Ukrainian naval drones in Romanian waters after they reportedly went off course due to Russian electronic warfare measures. One of the drones exploded in the Port of Constanța last week.

“I welcome today's results of the North Atlantic Council meeting at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, dedicated to the security situation in the Black Sea, a topic of great importance for Romania and for NATO. Allies firmly expressed their solidarity with Romania following recent drone incidents,” president Dan said on X. 

He further stressed that "Russia's war against Ukraine continues to create major risks for Euro-Atlantic security, particularly in the Black Sea," adding that "it is therefore important that NATO strengthen its presence and capabilities in Romania, including in the area of countering aerial and maritime drones.”

According to Nicușor Dan, allies agreed during the meeting to accelerate NATO projects aimed at responding to drone threats so that support measures for affected member states can be approved at the Alliance summit in Ankara.

“Black Sea security is also essential for protecting critical infrastructure and strategic energy projects such as Neptun Deep, which contributes to Europe’s energy resilience. This topic was part of today’s discussion,” he said.

I welcome today's results of the North Atlantic Council meeting at #NATO Headquarters in Brussels, dedicated to the security situation in the Black Sea, a topic of great importance for Romania and for NATO. Allies firmly expressed their solidarity with Romania following recent…

— Nicușor Dan (@NicusorDanRO) June 10, 2026

Interim defense minister Radu Miruță also stated that Romania had, for the first time, placed the risks posed by maritime drones in the Black Sea on NATO's agenda. He added that allied countries recognized Romania's efforts to strengthen regional security through defense modernization programs and anti-drone capabilities acquired under the European SAFE initiative.

“Romania is not asking for support before taking concrete steps to strengthen its own defense," Miruță said, adding that Bucharest has requested temporary allied assistance until the anti-drone systems ordered through SAFE are delivered.

He also said several allied states are examining the possibility of providing additional capabilities to reinforce NATO's defense posture on the Eastern Flank.

In a related message, NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the Alliance is adapting to evolving security challenges linked to Russia's war against Ukraine.

“NATO’s commitment to defend every inch of Allied territory demands that we consistently adapt to an evolving security landscape. As a direct result of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, we’ve seen more incidents with drones along our eastern flank – both in the air and at sea. NATO is working closely with our Allies to ensure we continue to address this challenge efficiently and effectively, including through discussions today in the North Atlantic Council focused on security along the Black Sea,” reads the statement.

Romania has experienced several drone-related security incidents since the start of the war in Ukraine. Most recently, on May 29, a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Galați, injuring two people, while on June 5, a Ukrainian maritime drone self-detonated in the Port of Constanța after drifting into Romanian waters.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Presidency.ro)