Bulgaria Joins NATO Anti-Drone Project After Black Sea Attacks

Bulgaria is accelerating its integration into NATO defense frameworks following a series of drone attacks on four merchant ships within its exclusive economic zone on October 6 and 13. These strikes resulted in two vessels sinking, including the HS Dignity, and approximately 20 deaths. In response, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov announced that Bulgaria will join a NATO initiative to counter low-altitude aerial threats by October 30 and has committed 80 million euros to acquire 20 systems through the Drone Edge project in partnership with Spain.

Rumen Radev, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, summoned Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova to discuss the incidents. While Radev stopped short of a definitive attribution, he stated that the outcomes of the attacks benefit the Russian Federation. Ambassador Mitrofanova denied any Russian involvement, suggesting the strikes could be third-party provocations.

The government's response has drawn criticism from former defense officials. Iliya Nalbantov, a former chief of staff to several defense ministers, argued that the government failed to invoke NATO Article 4 to secure comprehensive surveillance of the Black Sea. Nalbantov further accused Radev of blocking investigators from examining evidence on a ship docked in Varna.

Separately, Radev dismissed warnings of a fuel crisis from opposition leader Boyko Borissov as pre-election manipulation, asserting that Lukoil's current oil storage is sufficient to cover domestic diesel consumption through mid-December.