Bulgaria enhances Black Sea defense following drone attacks on commercial vessels

Bulgaria is taking significant steps to bolster its maritime security after recent drone strikes against commercial vessels in the Black Sea. Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed that the country has allocated 80 million euros for participation in NATO’s 'Drone Edge' initiative. This funding, channeled through the EU's SAFE mechanism, will facilitate the acquisition of 20 anti-drone systems, split equally between mobile and stationary units. The country is also preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding with Spain to streamline joint procurement efforts.

These measures follow a series of attacks earlier this week, including an incident where a vessel sank off the Bulgarian coast and two others caught fire near Romania. In response, the Bulgarian government summoned the Russian ambassador to express its concerns regarding the safety of regional commercial shipping. Sofia has formally requested that NATO deploy additional fighter jets and specialized anti-drone technology to the region. These developments highlight the escalating risks to maritime navigation linked to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, prompting Bulgaria to urge the alliance for a stronger, more permanent military presence on its southeastern flank.