Original Coverage & Source Attribution: ukragroconsult.com
Romania has proposed establishing a joint NATO military command to strengthen security in the Black Sea. Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță discussed the initiative with his Bulgarian counterpart and proposed preparing a joint letter to NATO leadership. The new structure would bring together the three Black Sea coastal NATO members — Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye.
Under Bucharest’s proposal, the command would coordinate military operations and ensure a rapid response to threats in the Black Sea region. Romania is ready to host the command on its Black Sea coast and assume leadership from 2028. Until then, the structure could operate from Türkiye with the participation of Romanian and Bulgarian officers.
The Romanian minister also proposed a rotational system under which the coastal NATO countries would take turns hosting and leading the command. This approach would strengthen cooperation among allies and ensure a coordinated response to security challenges rather than separate national actions.
The need for a new command is linked to a growing number of incidents in the Black Sea, including drone incursions, naval mines and ship sinkings. According to Miruță, Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure pose additional security risks to neighboring countries and highlight the need for stronger coordination among NATO members.
Strengthening NATO’s military presence and coordination in the Black Sea could play an important role in ensuring the safety of commercial shipping, particularly grain and other agricultural exports. Reducing risks to vessels and port infrastructure would support stable maritime logistics and international food supplies. However, the proposed joint command still requires approval within NATO.
Tags: Romania, Black Sea region, war, Black Sea grain corridor
