On October 30, 2026, Belgium delivered one of its old mine sweepers to Bulgaria. This action is part of trilateral agreements signed between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria to enhance security capabilities in the Black Sea.
Details of the Trilateral Agreement
The trilateral agreement, signed on July 8, 2026, includes the transfer of a total of seven mine sweepers to Bulgaria, most of which were built in the late 1980s. Belgium is committed to transferring four ships, while the Netherlands will send three ships to Bulgaria. Previously, three ships of the same class were transferred to Bulgaria between 2009 and 2011.
Enhancing Security in the Black Sea
In light of recent Russian attacks on commercial ships, the need to strengthen NATO's capabilities in the Black Sea is increasingly felt. Bulgaria, along with Romania and Turkey, has been working to control the Black Sea mines since the onset of the war in Ukraine. These three countries are cooperating for patrolling and clearing mines, and the transfer of these ships will enhance Bulgaria's naval capabilities in detecting and neutralizing mine threats.
The Belgian mine sweeper, formerly named Bliss (M916), was commissioned in 1986 and will be renamed to its new name “Bris” after the transfer. Following necessary preparations, the ship will be stationed at the Burgas naval base in Bulgaria.
General Lieutenant Bernard Phaleg, Director General of Material Resources and National Armaments of Belgium, stated: “With the transfer of this ship to Bulgaria, a proven capability remains within NATO, thereby strengthening our ally and supporting security in the Black Sea region.”
The transferred ships are of the Tripartite class, which was a joint design between France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in the 1980s. Currently, France has eight ships of this class in service, and Belgium will soon transfer the last ships of this class to Bulgaria. The Netherlands also plans to send three more ships of this class to Bulgaria in 2027-2028.
