European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday denounced a 'hybrid-war campaign' targeting the European Union after a Romanian Air Force fighter jet destroyed a small marine drone in Romania's exclusive economic zone near the Neptun Alpha offshore platform, AFP and Reuters report.

In a post on X, Von der Leyen said the EU can respond to emerging threats 'with speed, unity and resolve', amid an ongoing threat campaign seeking to sow divisions inside the EU.

'Today, Romania destroyed a naval drone carrying explosives near its Neptun Deep platform in the Black Sea. An escalating campaign of threats is underway, unsettling our citizens and seeking to divide our Union. This is hybrid warfare,' she wrote, adding that 'the founding mission of our Union is to preserve peace. Today, that also means having the capacity to deter provocation and aggression.'

The EU's dedicated Readiness 2030 agenda is mobilising up to EUR 800 billion, the EC President also noted.

Von der Leyen highlighted the European Drone Defence Initiative and Eastern Flank Watch, saying both boost Europe's production capacity to deliver needed capabilities to member states. 'So we can respond to emerging threats with speed, unity and resolve,' she concluded.

Reuters reported the marine drone was spotted just a few hundred metres from the Neptun Deep Black Sea gas project.

Romania's Defence Ministry said two F-16 fighter jets were scrambled on Thursday after a drifting small marine drone was detected about 80 nautical miles east of Constanta. One aircraft engaged the target and fired its onboard cannon, hitting it. Its presence was first reported around 06:28 by a commercial vessel, the Defence Ministry said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Tudor Martalogu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)

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