Romanian PM Luca Niculescu calls Bulgarian PM Rumen Radev on Black Sea security

A phone call on Black Sea security

Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu phoned Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Wednesday, 21 October, to discuss how the two countries could tighten coordination within their strategic partnership. Niculescu said in a post on X that the talks covered security and connectivity challenges in the Black Sea region, and he called the conversation very fruitful. The two leaders agreed to meet again in the near future to keep their close dialogue going. Niculescu also put forward a proposal to work with Turkey to protect shipping in the Black Sea.

We must cooperate with each other and with Turkey to ensure the security of navigation in the Black Sea.

Defence ministry handover

On the same Wednesday, Niculescu attended the handover of the Ministry of National Defence to the new minister, Ștefan Radu Oprea. Niculescu said he and the ministry's new leadership agreed to speed up the operational start of the Black Sea security hub. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation with NATO partners and the European Commission, with the aim of turning the hub into a real pillar of monitoring and deterrence. Niculescu had been sworn in on Tuesday evening at the Victoria Palace, after which his government held its first session and first press statement.

Niculescu framed the ministry handover around a single priority.

Our zero priority is the defence of Romania's territory and its citizens.

Regional context and reactions

In a Facebook post, Niculescu wrote that the security environment in the region is tense and that the country had to send a clear message. He thanked Romanian soldiers and pilots serving alongside allies in the Black Sea area, which he described as a region that once was calm but now demands constant vigilance. Niculescu also welcomed the recent initiative of Romanian President Nicușor Dan to draw NATO allies' attention to the Black Sea situation. In the same post, the prime minister said the situation there is deteriorating more and more.

We are in a turbulent period in which the regional security environment is extremely tense, which is why I sent an unambiguous message.