General Gheorghiță Vlad emphasizes the risks of interference in Romania's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Black Sea, in the context of the critical situation in Ukraine.

The Chief of the Army, General Gheorghiță Vlad, declared that the situation in Ukraine is critical, and Romania must be prepared for potential security risks in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Black Sea. He emphasized that, although Article 5 of the NATO treaty protects member states, the EEZ does not benefit from the same coverage, which could lead to interference from the Russian Federation.

To protect critical infrastructure, including the Neptun Deep gas field, Romania will strengthen its naval capabilities, including through the acquisition of new ships. Neptun Deep is the largest offshore gas field discovered in the EU, with estimated reserves of 100 billion cubic meters. Military analyst Valentin Mateiu warned that Russia could test Romania and NATO in the Black Sea, considering the strategic importance of natural gas in the context of Europe's energy independence.