May 2026: Romanian President Nicușor Dan visited the Arizona Commerce Authority booth at the Black Sea Defense and Aerospace Exhibition: a concrete marker of the bilateral relationship’s current depth.
The Black Sea Defense and Aerospace Exhibition (BSDA) 2026, held at Romaero in Bucharest, brought together defense and aerospace stakeholders from across NATO and allied nations. Among the highlights of this year’s edition was a visit by Romanian President Nicușor Dan to the Arizona Commerce Authority booth: a reflection of the growing strategic and economic engagement between the United States and Romania.
Carstens Consulting Global Inc. (CCG) supported Arizona’s presence throughout the three-day exhibition, contributing to the outreach and coordination efforts that shaped the state’s participation. The team was also honored to receive U.S. Ambassador to Romania Darryl Nirenberg and Romania’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Lucia Sava, whose work has been central to advancing the bilateral relationship at the institutional level.
CCG extends its appreciation to Kevin O’Shea and Caleb Rhodes of the Arizona Commerce Authority for their leadership during the event, and to CCG’s Andrei Mavris for his sustained effort in supporting Arizona’s engagement in Romania.
Arizona’s presence at BSDA 2026 reflected the state’s standing as one of the United States’ most significant defense and aerospace economies. With over 1,300 companies across the supply chain, 62,400 direct employees, and $34.1 billion in sector economic value, ranking 4th nationally, the state brings considerable industrial depth to its international engagements.
Arizona Defense & Aerospace: Key Figures
$34.1B Aerospace & defense economic value, ranked #4 nationally
1,300+ Companies across the A&D supply chain
62,400+ Direct aerospace & defense employees
#2 National rank in guided missile & space vehicle manufacturing employment
9,600 Raytheon employees in Tucson alone
$15.5B Honeywell Aerospace global revenues (2024)
20 Military installations across the state
Major contractors including Raytheon, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, and General Dynamics operate significant facilities in Arizona, alongside 20 military installations that anchor the state’s defense infrastructure. This industrial base positions Arizona as a natural partner for Romania as the country continues to expand and modernize its defense capabilities within the NATO framework.
CCG looks forward to supporting the Arizona Commerce Authority’s continued engagement in Romania and across the broader Black Sea region.