On 31 March, SIPRI hosted a visit from HE Nicolae Ciucă, Prime Minister of Romania. The visit tied into an event on the topic, ‘Threats and Opportunities in the Black Sea Area’ and was moderated by Stefan Löfven, Chair of the SIPRI Governing Board.
During the event, Prime Minister Ciucă gave a keynote speech on the strategic importance of the Black Sea region, citing its geopolitical significance as a bridge between Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as its importance in terms of military defence, food security, energy and connectivity sectors. He stressed the importance of addressing all the security issues in the region, including protracted conflicts, in order to achieve lasting peace.
After the speech, a discussion was held under Chatham House Rule where researchers, Stockholm-based diplomats and officials could raise points for debate.
During the visit, SIPRI conducted an interview with Prime Minister Ciucă for the SIPRI Spotlight film series. Prime Minister Ciucă was asked about the key security challenges facing the Black Sea region and how they could be addressed. The film is now available on SIPRI’s YouTube channel.