Why a small navy's frigate may be its cruiser

Do frigates in small navies perform the role of cruisers?

Yes. When they are the independent presence ships of their fleet, their function can be cruiser-like even if their official class is frigate.

Classification depends on what the ship does within its own fleet, not only on displacement. A small navy may lack a formal cruiser while still needing one vessel to carry the independent and diplomatic workload associated with cruisers. The Romanian example is used to show a modest ship serving as the navy's principal cruising unit. This functional view makes comparisons across fleets more useful than applying one great-power label mechanically.