Bulgaria requests NATO anti-drone systems amid Black Sea threats
Summary
Bulgaria has officially requested NATO to deploy combat aircraft and anti-drone systems to enhance its defenses following a series of drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea, as stated by Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov. This escalation comes after two ships were set on fire near Romania, and a commercial vessel sank off Bulgaria's coast due to a drone strike, leading Sofia to summon Russia's ambassador. The threats posed by drone warfare, particularly in the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, have prompted Bulgaria to seek stronger NATO presence in the region and to coordinate responses with neighboring Romania and Turkey. Additionally, Bulgaria expects to join a NATO anti-drone initiative by the end of October as part of its efforts to bolster security in the Black Sea.