Yasin Gungor
22 May 2025•Update: 22 May 2025
BUCHAREST, Romania
The opening day of the ninth Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum concluded Thursday in the Romanian capital of Bucharest, with 25 panels discussing regional security challenges.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan, who was sworn in earlier on the same day, opened the two-day forum. During his speech, he reaffirmed Romania's ongoing support for Ukraine and discussed his country's relations with the EU, NATO, and the US.
Multiple panels discussed NATO's future role and the US military presence in Europe. The session "Future American Military Footprint in Europe and NATO: From Conventional Posture to Nuclear Umbrella" featured US and UK experts who discussed America's strategic posture and its implications for the alliance's eastern flank.
Another panel, "Dark Clouds over Europe: Is NATO Ready for a Confrontation with Russia," featured former UK Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon, who discussed how NATO can strengthen deterrence along its eastern borders.
Russia-Ukraine war, peace prospects
Another important theme on the first day of the forum was the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the prospects for peace. Participants in the "Peace in Ukraine, but at What Price" session discussed how international peace treaties can ensure long-term security while upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity principles.
The "Rebuilding the Economy, the Biggest Challenge for Ukraine's Stability" panel mentioned immediate economic priorities and reconstruction for post-war Ukraine.
Energy security discussions
Energy was a central theme throughout Thursday's sessions. "The Black Sea Energy Potential: Opportunities and Challenges" featured Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja discussing how offshore resources influence regional energy planning.
The panel "No Security Without Energy: Projects for a Safer Black Sea and Aegean Sea" examined how energy security initiatives contribute to regional stability and European security frameworks.
Additional panels covered information warfare, hybrid threats, defense industry capabilities, and broader regional security issues.
The New Strategy Center, a prominent Romanian think tank, has organized the two-day event in collaboration with Romania's National Defence Ministry, with Turkish global news agency Anadolu serving as the global communication partner.
The Romanian Foreign Ministry is an institutional partner, and Bucharest's University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine are academic partners.
The forum continues on Friday, with the remaining sessions featuring 198 speakers from EU and NATO member states discussing long-term security challenges in the Black Sea and Balkans.
Complete details about speakers and the conference program are available on the forum's official website at https://2bsecurityforum.ro.
