Romania has appealed to NATO to strengthen defense capabilities on the eastern flank following a series of drone incidents related to the war in Ukraine. This issue was discussed at a meeting of the North Atlantic Council dedicated to the security of the Black Sea region, Digi24 reports, according to UNN.
Details
Bucharest asked the Alliance to strengthen surveillance and air defense systems, in particular by deploying additional radars and drone interception equipment. The appeal followed two high-profile incidents: in Galați, a drone crashed into a residential building, and in Constanța, a sea drone exploded within the port territory.
NATO promises to adapt defense
Following the meeting, the Alliance declared its readiness to strengthen security measures in response to new challenges caused by Russia's war against Ukraine.
"NATO's commitment to defend every inch of allied territory requires us to constantly adapt to a changing security environment. As a direct consequence of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, we are seeing an increase in the number of incidents involving drones on the Alliance's eastern flank,"
NATO also emphasized that the Alliance is "working closely with its allies to ensure a continued effective and efficient response to this challenge."
Growing concern over the proximity of the war
According to Digi24, this is one of NATO's clearest statements regarding drone threats near the borders of Alliance member states. In recent years, Romania has repeatedly reported finding drone debris near the border with Ukraine; however, the incidents in Galați and Constanța have heightened concerns regarding the security of civilian and strategic infrastructure.
During the North Atlantic Council meeting, participants discussed possible steps to strengthen monitoring and defense of the eastern flank amid the risks that the war in Ukraine continues to pose to neighboring NATO states.