NATO Ankara Diplomacy: Romanian President Nicușor Dan used the summit’s wrap-up to press allies to boost Moldova’s defense and to underline the Black Sea’s energy and security role, while reiterating Russia as the main threat and support for Ukraine. Eastern Flank Tech Push: NATO is reportedly building an AI-enabled “Eastern Flank Deterrence” system to track Russian forces from Finland to Romania, with shared analytical reports and target data for faster response. Regional Black Sea Cooperation: Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey signed an expanded deal to widen their Black Sea mine countermeasures mission to protect critical undersea infrastructure. Defence Finance Watch: Canada’s new global defence bank aims for triple-A bonds, but a ratings expert warns it may struggle to earn that rating without bigger “economic heavyweight” shareholders; Romania is listed among the backers. Moldova Trade Reality: Transnistria’s exports remain heavily tied to the EU, with nearly 77% of shipments going to EU markets in early 2026. Legal AI Warning: A UK judge said CPS filings cited “non-existent” legal cases generated by AI in an extradition fight involving Romania. Romania Budget Shock (EU context): Hungary’s finance minister says the inherited deficit is 8.3% after an audit, revising earlier deficit plans.