Nicuşor Dan met with Emmanuel Macron: “I conveyed my concern about the drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea”

President Nicușor Dan announced Saturday that France would urgently assist Romania with equipment needed for maritime security, following recent drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. The support was discussed Friday in Brussels during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, held on the occasion of the European Council meeting.

According to Nicușor Dan, Paris responded to Romania’s request in less than 24 hours. The French equipment will be used until the equipment already ordered by the Romanian state arrives.

The discussion also addressed the Romanian-French strategic partnership, which Romania’s president considers an important pillar of common security and bilateral cooperation. The two leaders also continued their dialogue on Romania’s candidacy for the position of secretary-general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

The announcement comes after two vessels were hit by drones near the Romanian coast during the same week. Asked whether the drones were Russian, Nicușor Dan said this cannot yet be technically determined, although Romania has identified Russian components in several drones that entered its territory.