A meeting was held at the STEM Analytical Center with Professor Iulian Chifu — a renowned Romanian expert in international relations, conflict studies, and security issues in the post-Soviet space. Professor Chifu represents the National Defence University and the Faculty of International Relations at the National University of Political and Administrative Studies in Bucharest. He previously served as an advisor to the President of Romania on defense and national security issues.

The event was opened by Nargiz Mammadova, a leading expert on international relations at the STEM Analytical Center. In her welcome address, she emphasized the importance of bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Romania:

“Relations between the two countries are developing dynamically and can be considered within the broader framework connecting the South Caucasus and the Black Sea regions. Romania was among the first states to recognize Azerbaijan's independence, which holds significant political importance,” she noted.

In his keynote speech, Professor Chifu addressed a wide range of pressing geopolitical issues, focusing on the consequences of the war in Ukraine for Eastern Europe and the regional security architecture. He emphasized that the fundamental principles of the international order are at stake.

“The best-case scenario is always what Ukraine wants: to become part of NATO, to preserve its democracy, and to receive appropriate security guarantees. The worst-case scenario is the realization of Russia’s objectives. These objectives, by the way, have never been removed from its agenda. This would mean a Ukraine without access to the sea, a suppressed government, neutrality, the absence of military forces, and recognition of Russia as a great power. However, none of these goals has been achieved to this day,” he stressed.

Professor Chifu paid particular attention to infrastructure and logistics in the context of changing transit routes:

“Romania possesses well-developed infrastructure, partly due to the economic growth following World War I — largely driven by the oil sector. That was a time of major economic expansion, and many infrastructural foundations were laid then. However, today we require new and alternative tools. This is not a competition between the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. We have the Three Seas Initiative, and the key objective is to connect these regions, enhance logistics, and improve strategic resilience.”

He also shared specific examples from recent Romanian practices:

“We have reformed regulations at a new level. The entire legal and regulatory framework has been revised to unlock and optimize transit through Romania. We have enhanced the capacities of the Port of Constanța and the Danube ports. Previously, they could not handle the volume. At one point, we had to organize deliveries via bridges on the Danube in an expedited manner — there was not enough time, and circumstances pushed us to make rapid decisions. We hired specialists to accompany the barges — after all, one cannot simply send a barge off. It requires a systematic approach.”

Professor Chifu answered questions from experts and interns at the STEM center. Participants were particularly interested in the prospects for strengthening cooperation within the framework of the Three Seas Initiative, the impact of global transformations on security systems, and the role of regional partnerships amid ongoing challenges.

The meeting concluded with a commemorative photo, with participants highlighting the importance of such engagements in fostering professional dialogue and mutual understanding among countries in the region.