Bulgaria is strengthening intelligence gathering and surveillance in the Black Sea, as well as information sharing with NATO allies, in response to risks stemming from the war in Ukraine and growing hybrid threats. Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov made the announcement at an international conference in Sofia entitled The Black Sea and Eastern Europe: A Key to European Security, the Ministry of Defence reported.
Following drone strikes on two vessels in Bulgaria’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone, inter-agency coordination has been stepped up and the Armed Forces have heightened their readiness to respond to further incidents. Additional measures have also been introduced to protect military formations and critical infrastructure sites.
Drones hit two ships 80 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast
According to Stoyanov, Black Sea security is of strategic importance to Europe as a whole.
Commenting on the vessel that sank in the Black Sea following a drone attack, Stoyanov said that no further inspection operations were currently planned. Bulgaria will ask NATO to provide radar capabilities to help protect the Black Sea.
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Edited by Miglena Ivanova