ANKARA

Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on Friday that Türkiye’s full membership in the European Union (EU) is of great importance for ensuring security in the Black Sea region.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan following their meeting at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara, Toiu said Bucharest is hosting the NATO Industry Forum and noted that Romania maintains an active dialogue with Türkiye.

She underlined her country’s desire to deepen and expand cooperation with Türkiye, alongside their existing strategic partnership.

Toiu highlighted trilateral cooperation between Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria within the NATO framework, saying this partnership can expand beyond NATO to other fields and serve as an example for other nations. “We support Türkiye’s EU candidacy. Türkiye’s full EU membership is a key element for ensuring security in the Black Sea.”

Recalling that next year will mark the 15th anniversary of the Türkiye-Romania strategic partnership, Toiu said: “We have once again decided today that the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) will be held in Bucharest. We will host the meeting next year. I also conveyed Romanian President Nicusor Dan’s invitation to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.”

Toiu described Türkiye as Romania’s most important partner outside the EU and expressed a desire to further boost cooperation through investments.

She said the two countries aim to expand both the volume and scope of their trade, noting that Romania offers favorable conditions for foreign investments, particularly in the defense industry.

On the situation in Gaza, Toiu said: “We discussed cooperation with the US, Qatar, and Egypt. We thank Türkiye for its support in efforts to secure the release of hostages. Romania will continue supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid and the treatment of children in need of care. We will keep working for a just and sustainable peace.”

Thanking Türkiye for its role in ensuring Black Sea security, Toiu said: “We have ongoing regional efforts, and as two NATO allies, we are working hard to strengthen our economic foundation. We also aim to tap into the Black Sea’s potential.”

She said discussions at the NATO Industry Forum on Wednesday and Thursday also addressed ways to enhance security in the Black Sea, emphasizing that Romania seeks to foster economic cooperation and values joint investments.

She added that Türkiye and Romania have reached an agreement on the joint production of armored vehicles. “This opportunity is highly important, both for suppliers and manufacturers. It will serve as an example for other countries. We are closely monitoring the investments.”