The Black Sea Infrastructure is at risk, according to the Romanian National Defence Strategy

A draft national defence strategy released on Wednesday said that Romania must strengthen its ties with allies along the Black Sea to protect energy projects, which will make Romania the largest gas producer of the European Union in 2027.

In the past two years, the EU and NATO member state has been repeatedly violated by Russian drones. Mines have also been spotted in the Black Sea along key trade and energy routes.

Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia, along with Turkey and Ukraine, share the Black Sea, which is vital for grain, oil, and oil-based products.

The offshore gas project Neptun Deep, jointly owned by OMV Petrom, a majority owned by Austrian OMV, and Romanian state-owned Romgaz BX>, will produce its first gas by 2027. This makes Romania the EU's biggest gas producer.

According to the country's National Defence Strategy for 2025-2030 released on Wednesday by President Nicusor Dan, Romania will intensify its cooperation with Turkey and Bulgaria in order to protect vital energy and telecoms networks.

The draft strategy stated that "Russia's aggressive posture against Ukraine, and especially after 2014 the significant militarization on the Crimean Peninsula, endanger security in the Black Sea Region, putting at risk the safety of navigation, and the exploitation and exploitation of energy sources."

In this context, it is important to boost cooperation with Turkey and Bulgaria as allies, but also other (Black Sea nations).

The strategic partnership between the United States and Canada is "of overwhelming importance" to the strategy. It will be debated in public for about two weeks before it's sent to the parliament for approval.

Washington announced recently that it would no longer rotate part of its forces to Romania. Dan stated that the country is in discussions with other NATO allies regarding possible replacements.

According to the strategy, Romania will consider minorities of state-owned defence companies being listed on the stock exchange.

In the strategy, cyber attacks, corruption, and weak institutional capacities were identified as the principal risks to national security. It said that delays in the integration of Moldova and Ukraine, Romania's neighbours, would increase security risks. Reporting by Luiza Ili; Editing by Philippa Fletchcher

(source: Reuters)