NATO adapts to the security situation in the Black Sea
Romania and neighbouring Bulgaria are seeking NATO’s support following a series of drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea
Florentin Căpitănescu, 16.10.2026, 13:50
NATO will adapt its deterrence and defence posture in the Black Sea and convene a meeting of the North Atlantic Council for consultations on regional security. This was the main outcome of talks between Romanian President Nicușor Dan, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The trilateral meeting took place in Brussels on the sidelines of the EU leaders’ summit, following multiple drone attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea in recent weeks.
According to Radio Romania’s Brussels correspondent, citing sources familiar with the NATO talks, Romania and Bulgaria have opted, for the time being, not to invoke Article 4, a mechanism for political consultation and conflict prevention.
Nevertheless, a stronger NATO presence in the Black Sea region remains a key objective for Romania, as President Nicușor Dan confirmed:
“Naturally, every country wants a stronger Allied presence on its territory for deterrence, and this is something we are constantly working towards. When we had the drone incidents on the Danube, we went to NATO, to our allies, and said we needed equipment to protect a NATO member state along the Danube. We are now having the same discussion about the Black Sea.”
The president also said the drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea were an attempt by Russia both to destabilise the region and to undermine support for Ukraine.
President Nicușor Dan:
“Clearly, Russia is trying to destabilise societies and weaken support for Ukraine, not just in Romania and Bulgaria, but in other European countries too, particularly those on the Eastern Flank. Our response is that we will continue to support Ukraine, because this is a matter of international law and of Romania’s security.”
Security in the Black Sea region was also on the agenda of the European summit.
Meanwhile, Romania’s acting Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said Russia was turning the Black Sea into a dangerous area for civilian shipping, and that killing seafarers aboard merchant vessels, whether in this region or anywhere else in the world, was a crime. (MI)
