Romania Requests NATO Support to Counter Black Sea Drone Threats

The Government of Romania requested the urgent strengthening of NATO air defense and drone combat capabilities during a North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels on June 10, 2026. The request follows a series of security breaches, including a Russian drone that crashed into a residential building in Galați on May 29 and a Ukrainian maritime drone that exploded in the Port of Constanța on June 5.

President Nicușor Dan and Defence Minister Radu Miruta detailed how Russian aggression and drone activity in the Black Sea threaten Romanian airspace and critical infrastructure. For the first time, Romania introduced the specific risks posed by naval drones to the Alliance's agenda. While Romania is pursuing its own counter-drone procurement through the European SAFE initiative, Miruta requested temporary allied assistance until those systems are delivered.

NATO allies expressed solidarity with Romania and agreed to accelerate projects to counter drone threats. These discussions serve as a precursor to the NATO Summit in Ankara, scheduled for July 7-8, where allies expect to approve specific support measures and additional national contributions to reinforce the defense posture of the Eastern Flank.