A US Navy aircraft began surveillance and reconnaissance patrols over the Black Sea after Bulgaria requested international assistance following a series of drone attacks on commercial vessels off its coast.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed the
deployment on Tuesday, October 20, explaining that the US Boeing P-8A Poseidon
aircraft is intended to detect activities that could pose a threat to maritime
security.
The aircraft arrived on Sunday at the Bulgarian port of
Varna from Sicily. According to Bulgarian authorities, the missions are part of
surveillance measures agreed upon with NATO and will continue for as long as
necessary.
The request for support came after several merchant ships
were hit by drones in waters near Bulgaria and Romania. Some of the attacks
resulted in the sinking of vessels and left sailors missing, raising concerns
about the safety of commercial shipping in the region.
Given the seriousness of the incidents, Bulgaria requested
increased air surveillance, drone defense systems, and other military
capabilities from its NATO allies to detect and respond to potential threats.
The situation also heightened tensions related to the war
between Russia and Ukraine, the effects of which have spilled over into the
Black Sea shipping lanes. Although Bulgarian authorities have indicated
possible Russian involvement in some attacks, definitive attribution requires
evidence to identify those responsible.