ABSTRACT
Romania has a small well-trained navy and important maritime interest. Highlighting the importance of the maritime environment to the Romanian government, the former Minister of Defence, Sorin Frunzaxverde, stated that his ministry attached paramount importance to the navy. Future ambitious, and ultimately costly, plans to improve Romania's maritime power announced by the minister of defence include a new surveillance system connected to NATO commands and the acquisition of new capabilities including mine hunters, corvettes and a logistic ship. Despite its relatively small traditional naval power, Romania's maritime power is enhanced by the presence of a sizable merchant maritime defence industry. Romania's independence from the Soviet Union in the late 1960s meant that it developed its own research and development sector and defence industrial base to provide armaments for both the Romanian Armed Forces (RAF) and export. As a result Romania's goals in the Black Sea are to create a stable, democratic and prosperous region.
