08/12/2025
At the Opening Ceremony of the International Conference “Strategic Resilience and National Defense: From Planning to Action in the Face of Hybrid Threats,”
H.E. Özgür Kıvanç ALTAN, Ambassador of Türkiye to Romania, delivered a powerful and heartfelt message on resilience, regional cooperation, and the future of security in the Black Sea.
🇹🇷 Ambassador Altan began by honoring the 20 Turkish soldiers who recently lost their lives in an air crash, expressing gratitude for the solidarity shown by Romania and all Allied partners.
🛡 Resilience as the First Line of Defense
🔹 Resilience is essential for national defense planning.
🔹 A true whole-of-government approach is required — with strong civil–military cooperation.
🔹 Societal preparedness must address both the psychological and physical impact of attacks.
🔹 Protection against cyberattacks and continuity of critical services remain vital:
• Energy
• Critical infrastructure
• Communications
• Transport
• IT networks
• Food security
🌍 Türkiye’s Experience & Regional Cooperation
🔸 The February 2023 earthquakes were a major test for national resilience.
🔸 International cooperation ensured continued access to essential services — proving the importance of solidarity.
⚓ Black Sea Security & Trilateral Initiatives
🔹 Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria jointly created the Mine Countermeasures Task Group – Black Sea (MCM Black Sea).
🔹 The group has been activated seven times, strengthening maritime safety.
🔹 Plans are underway to expand trilateral cooperation to protect underwater and energy infrastructure.
🔧 Energy, Transport & Strategic Connectivity
🔸 Major natural gas projects in the Black Sea enhance regional energy security.
🔸 Trilateral dialogue on transport and infrastructure aims to improve north–south connectivity via roads and rail — including high-speed rail.
🔸 Closer Black Sea cooperation, including with Greece, will reinforce resilience and help build a sustainable regional network in the post-war context.
📍 National Military Circle Palace, Bucharest
📅 13–14 November 2025