Romania carries out NATO drills in Black Sea region • FRANCE 24 English

On the Black Sea, the Romanian Navy is testing its defense capabilities. Rear Admiral Kujokaru is overseeing an anti-aircraft response drill. We’re preparing across all domains, anti-ubmarine warfare, surface ship defense and countering hostile air forces. We face real challenges in the Black Sea, especially given the current geostrategic climate. For three years now, there’s been a war right next door. Recently, the country’s western alignment was nearly thrown into question. In late 2024, isolationist and anti-NATO candidate Khalin Gorescu came out on top in the first round of the presidential election. The vote was analled due to irregularities in his campaign, and ballots will be cast again on May 4th. For now, Romania, which borders Ukraine, continues to fulfill its military commitments. This annual maritime drill brings together several NATO countries. We welcome the participation of the task force to counter sea mines, especially given the ongoing mine threat in the Black Sea. Since the war began, around 120 mines have been found, six of them destroyed by Romanian naval forces. Near the port of Constansa, Romania is building what will become NATO’s largest air base in Europe. The election is being closely watched by the country’s partners. In March, the constitutional court rejected Khim Georgescu’s candidacy. He was replaced by ultra nationalist George Simeon, who is leading the polls for the first round. Romania’s foreign policy relies on three pillars, the EU, NATO, and the United States. Electing an isolationist or a euroskeepic could undermine that strategic triad. But I believe the risk is low. For the second round, I expect a surge of support from voters who truly believe in Europe and the West. George Simeon says he wants to remain in NATO and the EU, but analysts say his true intentions remain unclear. If elected, this Trumpist candidate could follow Washington’s lead in an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape.

The Romanian navy carried out NATO drills last month in the Black Sea region as European allies mull the long-term reliability of security guarantees from the United States under President Donald Trump. Romania’s western alignment was thrown into question late last year by anti-NATO presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, a far-right hopeful who has since been barred from the election rerun. 
#Romania #NATO #presidential election

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29 comments

  1. Far right candidate has no chance in the second round of voting. Most of us will vote with the most pro european candidate, Nicusor Dan, who studied in France and we respect the relationship we have with France and Europe/US.

  21. You want to scare the population with extremists. Why don't you come up with a better alternative for the Workers, we are just slaves of the Rich!!

  28. Amused that G. Simion is considered ultra nationalist, when he doesn't even speak the language grammatically correctly, his romanian history knowledge is worse than a middle school child, and he has interdiction to enter Moldova and Ukraine due to his collaboration with Russian spies.

  29. So Russia was right all along!!!
    NATO was trying to cutt off Russian warm water ports by inviting Ukraine into NATO…..
    Putin isn't paranoid,, he's right 😂😂

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