In brief
Three defence ministries announced plans to fast‑track responses to Black Sea security incidents by proposing a coordination mechanism. The discussions, held in Sofia, also addressed Bulgaria’s low‑flying threat counter‑project and acquisition of MICA surface‑to‑air missiles. The initiative follows recent drone assaults on commercial ships, prompting the ministers to condemn the attacks and seek joint maritime security measures.
On 28 October 2026, Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov announced that a coordination mechanism would be proposed for Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey during trilateral talks hosted in Sofia.
BTA reported at 10:17 on the same day that the mechanism was intended to accelerate responses to developments affecting Black Sea security, especially matters of freedom of navigation and maritime security. Stoyanov emphasized the need for sound, appropriate decision‑making in complex situations that serve the interests of all three states. He also noted that the three countries needed a system that would allow faster, joint responses to incidents. The meeting came against a backdrop of escalating low‑flying threat concerns, and Bulgaria was slated to consider a new counter‑project and the procurement of MICA surface‑to‑air missiles for its patrol ships.
Later that day, a second BTA report at 17:12 noted that the same three ministers had condemned recent drone attacks on merchant ships within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. Stoyanov said the trilateral talks were prompted by attacks a week or two prior and that a coordination mechanism could facilitate a faster, independent response. He also stressed that no memorandum directed at Russia or any external actor was being considered at that stage and that the collective measures would remain confidential until all parties agreed. A statement delivered after the talks confirmed the three countries’ unequivocal condemnation of the drone incidents.
The same day, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers was scheduled to decide on two memoranda. One memorandum concerned Bulgaria’s participation in a project aimed at countering low‑flying threats, while the second covered the planned purchase of MICA surface‑to‑air missiles for the navy’s patrol ships, according to BTA. These decisions reflect a proactive approach to enhancing national and regional security capabilities.
Participants at the Boyana Residence included Defence Minister Stoyanov, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, Romanian Defence Minister Stefan‑Radu Oprea, Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Dragos‑Dumitru Iacob, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, and Turkish Chief of Defence General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, each accompanied by their respective delegations. Their presence underscored a shared responsibility to maintain maritime security in the Black Sea.
Stoyanov referenced a recent incident in which a container ship was struck by three maritime drones approximately 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, a Bulgarian Black Sea coastal town. He highlighted this as the latest episode in a series of drone attacks on commercial vessels in the region, drawing attention to the growing threat to commercial shipping lanes.
According to the BTA coverage, the proposed mechanism is designed to enable a swift, coordinated response to any security incidents in the Black Sea, signalling a tangible step toward regional collaboration on maritime security amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
