Romanian President Nicușor Dan has called for stronger NATO oversight and counter-drone capabilities in the Black Sea after attacks damaged commercial vessels near Romania and Bulgaria. Speaking during an interview in Brussels, Dan said the region would remain unsafe while Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, while investigations into the incidents remain under way.
The warning adds a new dimension to Europe’s security debate: the conflict is affecting not only Ukraine’s ports and shipping routes, but also commercial traffic and NATO members bordering the Black Sea.
Romania seeks stronger NATO presence in the Black Sea
Dan said Romania needed greater protection for waters under its jurisdiction and acknowledged that the country had initially been unprepared for repeated drone incursions into its territory. He said similar concerns now applied to maritime security in the Black Sea.
The Romanian president expressed confidence that the country would receive allied support and the capabilities needed to protect an economically important region. He also highlighted Romania’s strategic position within NATO, arguing that its geography provides value for the alliance’s ability to project force.
Romania and Bulgaria raised the deteriorating security situation during discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Bulgaria requested combat aircraft and anti-drone systems, while Romania sought support tailored to the risks facing the western Black Sea.
Commercial shipping caught in the wider security crisis
Drone attacks damaged commercial vessels off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria over several days before the Brussels meeting, as well as during the previous week. At least one ship sank after an attack the previous week, with two seafarers reported killed.
The incidents have increased concern about the safety of shipping lanes used to move goods from Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and along the Danube, forcing Ukraine to rely on alternative routes for exporting grain to markets in Africa and the Middle East.
Those attacks have created risks beyond Ukraine’s immediate coastline. Commercial vessels operating near Bulgaria and Romania may face the consequences of damaged infrastructure, misdirected drones, unexploded devices or attacks linked to the broader war.
Neither Romania nor Bulgaria has definitively attributed every recent incident to Russia. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the Kremlin could benefit from such attacks, but also acknowledged that there was not yet proof establishing responsibility. Investigations into the incidents are continuing.
NATO promises to strengthen eastern-flank defences
Following talks with Romanian and Bulgarian leaders, Rutte said NATO would continue adapting its deterrence and defence posture along the alliance’s eastern flank. He specifically referred to expanding counter-drone capabilities and working closely with allies in the Black Sea.
The statement does not amount to a publicly announced NATO deployment or a new military operation. Instead, it points to continued adjustments in surveillance, air defence and protection against unmanned systems as the alliance assesses the changing threat environment.
France has also pledged necessary equipment and indicated that it would work to understand Romania’s specific requirements in the Black Sea. The support discussed reflects a broader European effort to reinforce vulnerable infrastructure and transport routes without making an unverified attribution for each attack.
Why counter-drone systems matter
Drones can threaten shipping and coastal infrastructure in several ways:
- They can strike vessels or port facilities directly.
- They can force ships to alter routes or suspend operations.
- They can create uncertainty about whether an incident is accidental, deliberate or linked to electronic warfare.
- They can test how quickly NATO members detect and respond to incursions.
For countries such as Romania and Bulgaria, the challenge combines maritime surveillance, airspace protection and civilian emergency planning. Any response must also distinguish between confirmed attacks, suspected incidents and unverified claims.
Ukraine says Russia is testing Europe’s response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said European countries did not need to be drawn into a conventional ground war for an invasion or incursion to occur. He pointed to reported drone and airspace incidents affecting Romania, Poland, Germany, Moldova and Bulgaria.
Zelenskyy argued that such incidents could be testing Europe’s willingness and ability to respond. His remarks came as European leaders discussed continued support for Ukraine, the European Union’s long-term budget and trade tensions with China at a summit in Brussels.
The Ukrainian government has blamed Russia for some incidents, including a deadly attack involving a vessel carrying Ukrainian grain near Bulgaria. However, responsibility for the wider series of maritime incidents has not been conclusively established publicly.
What the Black Sea developments mean for Europe
The Black Sea is strategically important for NATO security, Ukrainian exports and regional trade. The latest incidents raise concerns for several groups:
- Commercial operators: Shipping companies may face higher insurance, routing and security costs.
- Ukraine: Attacks on ports and vessels threaten vital export routes.
- Romania and Bulgaria: Both NATO members must protect coastal waters and nearby airspace.
- European governments: Allies must decide how to improve surveillance and counter-drone capacity while avoiding escalation.
- Global food markets: Disruption to Ukrainian grain exports could affect supplies reaching countries outside Europe.
For Ireland, the immediate operational measures concern NATO’s eastern flank rather than Irish territory. Nevertheless, any prolonged disruption to Black Sea shipping could affect European trade, food supply chains, maritime insurance and the wider security environment in which EU member states operate.
What happens next?
The immediate next steps are likely to focus on investigations, intelligence-sharing and decisions about equipment requested by Romania and Bulgaria. NATO has indicated that its eastern-flank posture will continue to evolve, but the details of any additional capabilities or deployments would depend on further assessments and decisions by the alliance and individual member states.
Until investigators establish responsibility for each incident, governments are expected to maintain cautious language. The central issue is no longer only the security of Ukrainian ports: it is also whether commercial shipping and coastal communities in NATO countries can be protected from spillover effects of the war.
Conclusion
Romania’s call for greater NATO protection in the Black Sea reflects growing concern about the impact of drone attacks on European shipping and regional security. NATO has promised stronger counter-drone cooperation, while Romania, Bulgaria and their allies assess what equipment and surveillance are needed. The key developments to watch are the findings of ongoing investigations and whether additional allied support is formally agreed.
