Romanian party leader warns of Black Sea war escalation after drone downing

Petrișor Peiu, the leader of the AUR senators in Romania, has demanded strong protests against Russia following repeated incursions of Russian drones into Romanian airspace. He believes these actions will escalate the conflict in the Black Sea and suggested that Romania should shoot down any drone entering its territory, regardless of its origin, using more cost-effective weaponry.

Peiu's statements come in the wake of Romanian forces downing a Russian drone for the third consecutive day near Sulina–Chilia. This repeated airspace violation prompted Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Russian ambassador. Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu condemned the incursions as "inadmissible and intolerable," emphasizing that Romanian airspace is also part of NATO and the European Union.

The AUR party had previously questioned the government and the Ministry of National Defense about why the drone that entered Romanian airspace on Friday was not neutralized closer to the border. While acknowledging the professional execution of the drone downing by Romanian Air Force pilots, AUR representatives stated that the tactical success could not mask the strategic vulnerability caused by delayed rearmament decisions.

“

Față de Rusia trebuie protestat ferm, de fiecare dată când drone rusești intră în spațiul nostru aerian. Poate și alte acțiuni diplomatice, mai puternice. Nu cunosc bine procedurile, dar, în orice caz, orice dronă trebuie doborâtă, indiferent de statul de unde a fost lansată. Și abia apoi trebuie protestat ferm față de statul căruia îi aparține drona.