Romania and Ukraine Team Up on Drone Production

Romania is moving to establish a joint production line for defensive drones together with Ukraine, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu announced on October 1. The move reflects growing security concerns along NATO’s eastern flank following repeated Russian violations of European airspace.

Toiu described the initiative as a strategic project aimed at both national and regional defense. By building domestic drone capabilities, Romania hopes to contribute to what she called a “drone wall” protecting NATO members from unmanned aerial threats launched by Russia. Negotiations with Ukraine had already started prior to the latest incidents, such as Russian incursions into Estonian airspace and NATO jets intercepting drones over Poland.

In parallel, Bucharest has authorized a larger American presence on its soil. U.S. troops will play a growing role in regional security and in refueling missions tied to operations in the Middle East. The Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, a key hub on the Black Sea, will be significantly expanded to host up to 10,000 U.S. soldiers.

These developments come amid renewed transatlantic debates over NATO’s rules of engagement. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that alliance members should be prepared to shoot down Russian military aircraft that cross their airspace—remarks that highlight the pressure on NATO to respond more assertively to Moscow’s provocations.