Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculăescu and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, want closer cooperation for the security of the Black Sea and the protection of commercial vessels

Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculăescu and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussed stepping up cooperation on Black Sea security during their first bilateral conversation, held amid concerns over attacks on commercial vessels.

Dan Neculăescu condemned the attacks on civilian vessels and stressed that the safety of navigation in the Black Sea is not merely a regional issue. According to the minister, maritime transport in the area is connected to international markets, and incidents can affect the movement of goods and economic relations worldwide.

The two officials agreed on closer cooperation within NATO, particularly in the area of maritime security. Romania and Turkey also intend to step up trilateral consultations with Bulgaria to strengthen stability and coordination among the littoral states.

The announcement does not, for now, include any new military operations or concrete measures that have already been approved. The statements nevertheless indicate that navigation security and regional cooperation are being prioritized in a context where protecting commercial routes in the Black Sea has international implications.