Nicușor Dan calls Black Sea crucial for European security in Navy Day message read in Constanța

Navy Day message in Constanța

President Nicușor Dan marked Romanian Navy Day on 15 August 2026 with a message read at the ceremonies in Constanța by presidential counselor Marius Lazurca. Dan was absent from the event for the second consecutive year. He also published a separate message on Facebook marking both Navy Day and the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, wishing Romanians peace and joy alongside their loved ones and greeting those celebrating their name day.

Dan thanked all military and civilian sailors, saying they had chosen a profession that demands discipline, competence, and courage. He described the values defining the Romanian Navy across generations as a benchmark for all of Romanian society.

Black Sea as a security priority

The president said that in recent years the Black Sea has become a crucial zone for European security and the place where one of Romania's most important responsibilities toward European security begins. He framed Romania as a state contributing to the security of NATO's eastern flank, the protection of freedom of navigation, and the consolidation of stability in a region where military risks and hybrid threats manifest with unprecedented intensity.

Dan said NATO and EU membership gives Romania the strongest security platform in its history, but that this membership also entails responsibility and involvement. He linked the changed strategic picture directly to the war launched by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, saying geography had not changed but the way Romania is obliged to understand it has changed radically.

Naval modernization and domestic industry

Dan stated that modernizing the Romanian Naval Forces remains a priority beyond electoral cycles or current debates. He listed fleet renewal, demining capabilities, and surveillance and protection capabilities for maritime infrastructure as key areas. He said he would advocate for a sustained level of allocations for defense capability development and naval modernization so the forces are prepared to respond to current and future challenges.

“A modern army is built through continuity, and this is the responsibility of the state's institutions, regardless of the political configuration of the moment.”

The president added that it is equally a priority for him that these investments support Romanian industry and contribute to the development of the national economy. He described the Port of Constanța, the Danube, the naval industry, logistics infrastructure, and energy resources as together forming one of the most important strategic opportunities Romania has had in recent decades.

Vision for the Black Sea region

Dan said the Black Sea means more than security, encompassing trade, energy, and connectivity. He called for vision and consistency to transform the Black Sea region into one of the main engines of Romania's development. He described the intersection of strategic interests, essential trade routes, critical energy infrastructure, and competition between governance models and visions regarding the international order.

The president concluded by greeting sailors and their families, praising a profession that requires discipline, competence, and courage, and saying the sea never makes concessions.