Romania to propose sanctions against Russian diplomats after drone incident

Romania is preparing to impose diplomatic sanctions on Russia after a drone incident near the town of Galați, where a drone reportedly entered Romanian territory. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced on Thursday that authorities are working on multiple fronts to address the situation, with diplomatic action being the first priority.

Bolojan stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Administration have agreed on the measures to be discussed and proposed at the Supreme Defense Council (CSAT) meeting. "We agreed this morning with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the action to be proposed in the CSAT meeting on a diplomatic level, so that we adopt sanctions against Russian diplomats in Bucharest," Bolojan said.

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We agreed this morning with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the action to be proposed in the CSAT meeting on a diplomatic level, so that we adopt sanctions against Russian diplomats in Bucharest.

Beyond diplomatic repercussions, Romania is also focused on strengthening its eastern border security. Bolojan revealed that discussions are underway with the Ministry of Defense to request advanced military technologies from NATO allies. These include anti-aircraft defense systems and radars capable of detecting low-altitude threats, crucial for modern warfare involving drones. This initiative is part of a larger program, SAFE, valued at approximately 10 billion euros, aimed at equipping the Romanian Army with necessary defense capabilities by 2030.

Bolojan also criticized delays caused by challenges to legislative projects concerning national defense, particularly those related to drone interception during peacetime and the SAFE program. He emphasized the importance of equipping the Romanian Army with effective military technology to ensure citizen safety, despite political and legal obstacles.

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As part of its proposals, we are advocating higher tariffs on finished footwear imports from outside the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as reduced or zero duties on raw materials.