Nicușor Dan

Force in Play

Blamed Russia for the Oct. 23 drone strike that sank the cargo ship Khoryv off Constanta and said it was part of Moscow's escalation

A drone hit the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv about 13 nautical miles off Romania's Constanta port on Oct. 23, killing at least one of its 13 Ukrainian and Azeri crew. Nine sailors were rescued, three are still missing, and President Nicușor Dan said the strike was part of Russia's escalation in its war in Ukraine.

Updated Oct 25

Rule Changes

Swore in Luca Niculescu's government on October 20, after four attempts to install a cabinet.

Luca Niculescu's minority government took office on October 20, when Parliament backed his cabinet 280-58 and ended 168 days of interim rule. The Social Democrats hold 11 of the 18 cabinet posts; the National Liberal Party and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR agreed to support the government for a few months without joining it.

Updated Oct 22

Money Moves

As of June 2026: Expanding Romania's Black Sea naval capacity

On June 20, 2026, Turkey handed Romania the corvette CAm. Roman at an Istanbul shipyard—its first warship export to a NATO and EU member. Presidents Erdoğan and Dan attended the ceremony. Romania's navy assigned the ship to its 50th Corvette Division, its first new vessel in 35 years.

Updated Jun 22