Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar participated on Friday in the ninth edition of the Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum (BSBSF), where he pointed out the importance of the Black Sea region for the stability of the Eastern Flank of NATO and of the European Union.

According to an MApN press release, in his address, minister Tilvar emphasized that Romania remains a pillar of security in the Black Sea region. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening national defence capabilities and Romania’s active role in NATO and the European Union.

„For Romania, the Black Sea is not just a geographical reality, but it is an area of major strategic interest, where economic, energy and security challenges converge. The region is crucial for the stability of the Eastern Flank of NATO and the European Union, especially in the context of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression in Ukraine,” Minister Tilvar said during the panel „The Battle for the Black Sea is not over. Current and possible new threats”.

The event was also attended by Atanas Zapryanov, minister of Defence of Bulgaria, Anatolie Nosatyi, minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova, and Suay Alpay, deputy minister of Defense of the Republic of Turkey. The discussion was moderated by George Scutaru, CEO of the New Strategy Center, and Yordan Bozhilov, president of the Sofia Security Forum.

BSBSF is one of the most important security events in the wider Black Sea region and the Western Balkans. BSBSF 2025, an event organized in partnership with the Ministry of National Defence by the New Strategy Center, brought together experts and high-level officials to discuss classic and emerging security challenges in the region.

This year’s edition of the forum focused on the evolving security environment in the Black Sea and the Balkans, in the context of the Russian Federation’s continued military aggression against Ukraine. Among the topics on the agenda are the future of transatlantic relations, the strengthening of NATO’s defence posture on the Eastern Flank, and the consolidation of the European defence industry.

AGERPRES