European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned an “escalating campaign of threats” against the European Union after Romania destroyed a naval drone near its Neptun Deep offshore gas platform in the Black Sea. The incident occurred as the drone headed toward Romania’s exclusive economic zone, according to Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță, who said F-16 fighter jets destroyed the marine drone.
Von der Leyen describes incident as hybrid warfare
“An escalating campaign of threats is underway, unsettling our citizens and seeking to divide our Union. This is hybrid warfare,” von der Leyen said, without naming the aggressor. She made the remarks in response to Romania’s decision to destroy the drone, which was approaching the Neptun Deep gas project, a key energy infrastructure development in the Black Sea.
Romanian Defence Minister Radu Miruță confirmed that the drone was destroyed by F-16 fighter jets as it moved toward the country’s exclusive economic zone. The Neptun Deep platform is a major offshore gas project operated by Romanian state-owned company Romgaz and OMV Petrom, and its security is considered critical for Romania’s energy independence.
EU Readiness 2030 agenda mobilizes up to EUR 800 billion
Von der Leyen linked the incident to broader EU defence efforts. “The founding mission of our Union is to preserve peace. Today, that also means having the capacity to deter provocation and aggression,” she said. She outlined the EU’s Readiness 2030 agenda, which is mobilising up to EUR 800 billion to enhance defence capabilities.
“With the European Drone Defence Initiative and the Eastern Flank Watch, we are scaling up production in Europe to deliver capabilities Member States need. So we can respond to emerging threats with speed, unity and resolve,” von der Leyen added. The initiatives aim to boost drone production and surveillance along the EU’s eastern border, which includes Romania, a NATO member that shares a border with Ukraine and has a Black Sea coastline.
Romania’s Neptun Deep gas project a target of threats
The Neptun Deep gas field, located in the Black Sea, is one of the largest natural gas projects in the European Union, with estimated reserves of around 100 billion cubic metres. The project has been a focus of Russian hybrid warfare tactics, according to Romanian officials, as Moscow seeks to undermine energy security in the region. The drone destruction marks the latest in a series of incidents involving unidentified drones near critical infrastructure in the Black Sea.
Romania has repeatedly reported drone fragments washing up on its shores or falling in its territory, particularly near the Danube Delta, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Romanian Defence Ministry has stated that the drone destroyed on this occasion was a naval drone, distinct from the Shahed-type drones used by Russia in attacks on Ukrainian ports. The incident underscores the growing threat to EU energy infrastructure and the need for enhanced defence measures, as outlined in von der Leyen’s Readiness 2030 agenda.
