Romania is requesting an expansion of NATO’s defensive stance in the Black Sea area, warning that the intensification of Russia’s military activities requires a stronger and more focused allied presence in the region, reports Politico.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Romanian Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, called for the additional deployment of anti-drone systems, radar capabilities, and anti-aircraft defense missiles, as part of a possible new NATO mission to deter Russia.
“The Black Sea is a place where the Russians have a major interest,” stated Miruță. “It is a sea that needs to be protected and an area where Romania is very interested for NATO to provide protection.”
The proposal would follow the model of recent initiatives launched by NATO to strengthen vulnerable areas on the eastern flank. Over the past year, the Alliance has launched the Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry missions to respond to sabotage on submarine cables and gaps in air defense. Last week, NATO also launched the Arctic Sentry mission, a move widely interpreted as a consolidation of security in the Arctic region, amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Romania argues that the Black Sea now requires similar attention.
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