Romania’s Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu has called for NATO allies Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey to expand their joint Black Sea de-mining task force to include patrols aimed at safeguarding energy infrastructure and trade routes from potential Russian attacks.
According to Reuters on August 14 the Black Sea—particularly Ukrainian waters—has been a key battleground since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Floating sea mines have repeatedly disrupted grain and oil shipments, with several commercial vessels hit. Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey, which share the Black Sea with Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia, established the joint de-mining initiative last year.
“This project will have to be expanded to a patrol project in coming years. We will discuss it in the near future with our allies,” Ionut Mosteanu told Reuters in an interview.
He added that the Black Sea would remain a battleground for Russia, stressing the need to deter Moscow and safeguard key interests—including energy infrastructure, maritime trade, and freedom of navigation—which he described as the objectives that would be defended.
Romania shares a 650-kilometre (400-mile) land border with Ukraine and has repeatedly found fragments of Russian drones on its territory. At sea, Mosteanu reported “nearly daily” GPS jamming attempts, which he suggested were likely carried out by Russia—an accusation Moscow routinely denies.
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Asked about the planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which will focus on a potential peace agreement for Ukraine, Mosteanu said he hoped the talks would deliver a ceasefire.
“Everyone is waiting for a ceasefire and then for a just, lasting peace to be negotiated, with security guarantees for Ukraine,” he said.
Earlier, Russian forces struck Izmail, targeting critical civilian infrastructure, the Izmail District State Administration reported. Authorities said there were no casualties or damage to residential buildings. Witnesses noted that the resulting fire was visible from across the Danube in neighboring Romania.
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