The Danube carries commerce on which Romania and several neighbouring states depend. Closing the river would damage the Romanian, Hungarian, Serbian, and Bulgarian economies, with consequences for Austria as well. Before the war in Ukraine, the apparent security of the region encouraged doubts about maintaining armed river forces. The economic exposure remained even during peacetime, giving Romania a reason to retain vessels capable of protecting the waterway.
Chapter · 4:11-5:47
Why the Danube still needs armed river forces
The Danube's role in Romanian and Central European trade explains why river forces remain strategically relevant even in peacetime.