Black Sea: NATO council meets today after drones downed over Romanian waters
After drone strikes on ships and the downing of two drones by Romanian F-16s, NATO discusses Black Sea security. The European Parliament also debates the issue today.
Archive image · Photo: Staff Sgt. Jacob Wongwai / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
The North Atlantic Council, NATO's main political decision-making body, meets today (Tuesday) to discuss defence and deterrence in the Black Sea, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu announced. On Saturday, Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two drones over the country's territorial waters. Defence Minister Radu Miruță said they were likely the latest Russian Geran-4 models with turboprop engines, flying at about 450 km/h – the first time Romania had downed drones of this kind.
Days earlier, drones hit two chemical tankers anchored near the Sulina Canal, an export route for Ukraine. A NATO military source told Reuters the drones were Russian. Romanian officials are still searching for seven missing crew members. According to Reuters, at least five other cargo ships have been hit off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria in the past two weeks, with 23 sailors reported dead or missing.
The European Parliament in Strasbourg is also debating the protection of the EU's eastern flank and the bloc's Black Sea strategy today. Meanwhile in Moldova, another drone crashed in a northern district near the Ukrainian border, with no casualties. Earlier, on Thursday and Friday, five drones identified as Russian fell on Moldovan territory within just over 17 hours.