Defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov spoke by phone today with his counterparts in Romania and Turkey after two merchant ships were hit in the Black Sea overnight, the Defence Ministry said. Security in the region after the attacks was the main topic of both calls.
This report follows our earlier story on the conference in Sofia on 12 October, where Stoyanov said the ministry is stepping up monitoring in the Black Sea and sharing more data with NATO.
Stoyanov spoke with Romania's deputy prime minister and defence minister Radu Miruta and Turkey's defence minister Yasar Guler. The Bulgarian government condemns the attacks on the merchant ships. Stoyanov said they grossly violate international maritime law.
"The situation in the Black Sea is becoming more and more complex and requires stronger, coordinated action from us as allies," the minister said.
Stoyanov proposed that Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, together with NATO structures, step up monitoring and share intelligence. Only effective information sharing, closer monitoring and tight coordination can meet the growing risks, he said. The three countries share an interest in security and free shipping in the region, he said, and bear joint responsibility for them.
Updated (13.10, 13:51): Prime minister Rumen Radev said ships have come under new drone attacks in the Black Sea. One vessel was hit by three drones 18 miles east of Byala, and another sank after being struck 17 miles east of Krapets. Radev spoke with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte and called for a joint effort against the attacks, the Council of Ministers' press office said.