Bulgaria seeks NATO help after new drone strikes in Black Sea

Drones struck two more commercial ships off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, authorities said. Velislava Petrova, then Bulgaria’s deputy foreign minister, addresses the Conference on Disarmament at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, March 1, 2022. Drones struck two more commercial ships off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, a week after two other vessels were hit. (Violaine Martin/Courtesy of United Nations) Drones struck two more commercial ships off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast Tuesday, authorities said, prompting Bulgaria to seek additional NATO and European Union support for maritime surveillance. The latest attacks came a week after drones struck two other cargo vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, leaving numerous sailors missing. Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said in a statement that Bulgaria was seeking more support from NATO and the European Union.

“I have already discussed with them the need for assistance with the investigation into the attacks to establish the origin of the drones and to strengthen surveillance of our air and maritime spaces and our capacity to respond,” Petrova said. Prime Minister Rumen Radev summoned Russia’s ambassador over the matter. Although Bulgaria has not formally blamed Moscow, Radev suggested Russian involvement. “We have no clear evidence to make accusations against either side, but logic suggests that the outcome benefits the Russian Federation,” Radev said. Rumen Radev, prime minister of Bulgaria, walks to