During the Munich Security Conference, George Scutaru, CEO of New Strategy Center, took part on Friday, February 13, as a speaker in a session titled “Grain Drain: The Global Impact of Food Warfare in the Black Sea.”

He highlighted Romania’s important role in supporting Ukraine’s grain exports amid the naval blockade imposed by Russia in 2022–2023. Through investments in infrastructure and logistics, including the modernization of the Port of Constanța, Romania has become a vital corridor for Ukrainian grain, helping to maintain global food security. He also emphasized the importance of preserving freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, both for Ukraine’s reconstruction and for increasing regional energy security and connectivity projects. Starting in 2027, Romania will become the EU’s largest gas producer through the exploitation of the Neptun Deep perimeter in the Black Sea, further enhancing Romania’s strategic relevance.

The panel was moderated by Simon Shuster, journalist at TIME. The other speakers were Yevgeniya Gaber, Professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies; Lisa Yasko, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Verkhovna Rada; and Andrew Forrest, CEO of Fortescue, Australia.