President Nicușor Dan stated on Tuesday, in a press conference held in Paris, that Romania is prepared to respond firmly in case new drones violate the country’s airspace, in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The head of state affirmed that the army is in a constant process of adapting to the new technologies emerging on the Ukrainian front.
"If we have drones, you will see that we will take them down"
When asked if Romania has the capability to shoot down drones illegally entering its airspace, Nicușor Dan replied: "You will see. I hope they won't come anymore, but if they do, you will see."
The President explained that the technological changes resulting from the conflict in Ukraine have forced all European armies to adapt rapidly: "Because we have had peace for a long time, all the military preparations we have made and the equipment of our army have been done in a classic way. With the war in Ukraine, technological changes developed on the spot have emerged, and each of us must adapt to that. Now we are better than a month ago, and in three months, we will be better than we are today."
The statements come against the backdrop of repeated incidents with drones falling or being detected near the border with Ukraine in recent months.
Just two weeks ago, a Russian drone flew over Romanian airspace for several hours. Four fighter jets (two Romanian and two German) were scrambled to track it, but none fired at the drone to take it down. Eventually, the drone crashed in the yard of a local in Puieşti, Vaslui.