NATO has increased its surveillance of the Black Sea by deploying additional maritime patrol aircraft, drones, and radar systems following a series of deadly attacks on commercial ships off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria.
Attacks on Ships and NATO's Response
This action follows a North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels, where members also dispatched intelligence forces and explosive ordnance disposal teams to the area. NATO military spokesman Colonel Martin O'Donnell stated that these additional assets will help enhance surveillance and identify threats to ships.
Read more: Romania Downs Two Suspicious Russian Drones in NATO Airspace
Support for Bulgaria and Investigation of Attacks
Bulgaria has confirmed that a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has begun reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea. Romanian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has reported a swift response from allies to Sofia's request and anticipates further support. In the past month, four commercial ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone have been attacked, two of which sank.
Allied experts are also expected to assist in investigating the October 13 attack on the cargo ship Chelsea 3, which flies the Maltese flag. All 15 crew members were rescued, and investigators are examining recovered drone debris to identify the type of weapon used.
NATO's latest response comes after a series of attacks on commercial ships, including two chemical tankers off the coast of Romania last week. One of these vessels, Yara J, flying the Comoros flag, caught fire following a suspected drone attack in Romanian territorial waters near the Sulina Canal. The crew managed to extinguish the fire without external assistance.
These attacks increasingly threaten shipping routes serving the Danube ports and Ukraine's Black Sea, adding pressure on grain exports and increasing war insurance costs.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has separately claimed that its forces attacked three cargo ships in the Ukrainian port of Reni and two other ships heading towards Odessa, alleging that these vessels were being used for military purposes.
NATO has not officially attributed the recent attacks near Romania and Bulgaria to Russia, and Russia has denied responsibility for these incidents. Despite the heightened security situation, Bulgarian officials have stated that commercial transport to the Black Sea ports of Varna and Burgas continues, with no reported decrease in traffic on these routes.
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