Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Thursday, following the Black Sea security security incidents occurred over the past 24 hours, that Romania has made 'huge' strides compared with the past, both in military personnel training and in the technology they use. However, the Black Sea issue is of regional, not merely national scope, he said.

'On the high frequency of incidents violating the rules of international law in the Black Sea: over the past 24 hours, there have been three incidents at sea and another three separate incidents in the national airspace. At sea: the vessel Sea Destiny reported a visible explosion within its field of vision, but was not affected; the ship Yara J reported an explosion at its superstructure, in territorial waters; the chemical tanker Wide Trader, bound for the Republic of Moldova, was attacked by drones outside territorial waters, with people reported missing on board. In Romanian airspace: a drone briefly entered Romanian airspace (seven minutes), 35 km abeam of Sfantu Gheorghe, prompting the precautionary deployment of two fighter jets; another drone moved in Romania's national airspace for six minutes, 22 km east of Sulina; and another drone entered national airspace for nine minutes, five km southeast of Sulina,' Miruta wrote on his Facebook page.

According to the minister, several drones were also monitored in the vicinity of Romanian airspace, and precautionary measures were taken.

'At the National Defence Ministry, we launched this year the Romanian Army's most extensive procurement programme involving domestic production (Skynex, Skyranger, low-altitude radars, patrol vessels, mission helicopters, a mobile short-range air defence system, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, a very-short-range air defence system with C-UAS and C-RAM capabilities, mini-UAS, and 35 mm calibre rounds with head fuzes). State-of-the-art technology that, until recently, we could only look at in brochures. Romania has made huge strides compared with the past, both in military personnel training and in the technology they are equipped to use. However, the Black Sea issue is regional, not merely national in scope,' Miruta stressed.

He pointed out that the Romanian Army is fulfilling all its obligations to defend Romania with the resources available, but that Romania is not a country at war.

'From a military perspective, Romania has taken and continues to take all the necessary steps to ensure that incidents in the Black Sea are treated as a regional, multinational issue, in keeping with the actual context,' the defence minister said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Stoica; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)