NATO Eyes Mounting Drone Threat to Romania After Airspace Incursions, Attacks on Tankers

NATO officials plan urgent talks this week to discuss signs that Russia’s hybrid warfare is spreading to the Black Sea nation of Romania after a series of incidents, including drone intrusions into its airspace and drone strikes on two chemical tankers near its shores.Poland, Germany and the Baltic states have all been exposed to repeated provocations, including airspace violations by jet fighters, drones and balloons; telecommunications disruptions; arson and GPS jamming. The latest incidents suggest Moscow may be shifting its focus farther south along NATO’s eastern flank. On Sunday, Lithuanian officials announced an arson attack on Starlink facilitiesIn the latest incident on the high seas on Saturday, Romania announced on X that two of its F-16 fighters had shot down a pair of drones as they entered the country’s airspace without authorization. It added, “The Black Sea will be safe again.”“We have briefed our Allies and EU partners,” the foreign ministry said. “Our military has prepared for an increased intensity of hybrid interference and will continue to prioritize air defence and maritime security.”A NATO spokesman confirmed that two drones were shot down over Romanian territorial waters and said an investigation is ongoing. “NATO is ready and able to react to any potential threat, 24/7, to safeguard our territory and protect our people,” the spokesman said. Romanian officials are still searching for seven missing seamen after drones hit two chemical tankers in or near Romania’s territorial waters in the Black Sea on October 14 and 15. Romania’s president, Nicusor Dan, has declined to blame Moscow for the tanker incidents but a NATO military source told Reuters that the drones were “of Russian origin.” “The whole situation with the Black Sea will be discussed” during a scheduled meeting of NATO ambassadors at Brussels on Tuesday, Mr. Dan told Politico that he and the prime minister of Bulgaria are expected to attend alongside the NATO secretary-general, Mark Rutte, and the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, an American.“Of course the conclusion is that all the hybrid attacks are trying to decrease our support for Ukraine. We will continue to support,” Mr. Dan said. The Romanian president added that NATO’s collective defense clause, Article 5, is “not now” being discussed in response to the drone incidents. He also said that Romania has not asked the alliance to invoke Article 4, which provides for consultations when a member state believes its “territorial integrity, political independence or security” is being threatened. However, he said Romania has asked for more assistance from NATO to increase its defense capabilities. The incidents this week bring the total number of ships struck by drones over the last 10 days to five. At least 23 crew members have been killed in the strikes. Meanwhile, several reports from Poland says Poland is investigating what it believes to be incursions into its south of Lublin. it has not ruled out a meteorological anomaly though a Polish daily newspaper reported that serval social media users shared recordings of what sounds like a drone motors. The concerns about Russian incursions or hybrid attacks come a month after European intelligence officials warned that a Russian attack against NATO territory could be months, not years, away.

NATO Eyes Mounting Drone Threat to Romania After Airspace Incursions, Attacks on Tankers

NATO Eyes Mounting Drone Threat to Romania After Airspace Incursions, Attacks on Tankers

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