In his first major foreign policy speech Romanian President Nicusor Dan outlined a new national objective: becoming the host nation of the EU Black Sea Maritime Security Hub.
Establishing a EU maritime security hub for improving threat intelligence sharing and situational awareness is part of the European Union’s Strategic approach for the Black Sea, launched in May 2025. The Black Sea Security Hub will allow for real-time monitoring from space to seabed and early warning of potential threats and malicious activities, including through cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency. It will also monitor critical maritime infrastructure, all the more relevant given Russia’s hybrid attacks targeting regional undersea cables.
Romania, host of the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base (nicknamed “the Ramstein of the East”), is well-positioned to host this hub. MEP Victor Negrescu writes,“Romania has all the arguments to host this strategic center.” A decision to operationalize the Black Sea Security Hub depends on other coastal member states. This implies that Bulgaria, too, might become the leading nation of this new entity.
Bucharest is prepared to assume a role as a security provider in the region, as part of wider burden-shifting within NATO. Bucharest initially hoped the United States would increase its presence in the region. Pragmatism seems to inform the vision of the Romanian elites today: it is time for Romania to do more for its own security before delegating its defense to others. This imperative is also visible in Romania’s recently launched national security strategy, which commits to increasing the defense budget to 5% of GDP by 2035.
A mere articulation of this objective will not suffice. The Romanian government must present a credible project outlining Bucharest’s vision for the Black Sea Security Hub, including ideas of how to manage a complicated EU-Turkey relationship. Romania might consider inviting Ukraine to join the Black Sea Hub, allowing Ukraine to share naval warfare innovations developed in the Black Sea campaign against Russia. Finally, the Romanian President must engage in sustained diplomatic efforts to secure the support of EU allies for becoming the host nation of the planned EU security base in the Black Sea, in what might turn out to be a competition between Bucharest and Sofia.
Further reading
European Commission Backs Black Sea Security Hub – The Romania Journal
EU strategic approach to the Black Sea region | EEAS
STRATEGIA NAȚIONALĂ DE APĂRARE A ȚĂRII PENTRU PERIOADA 2025-2030