Bulgaria faces rising tension after drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, prompting diplomatic engagement and internal political debate.
🔗 Read the article on balcanicaucaso.org
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Over the past two weeks, four merchant ships have been attacked by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria’s coast. Prime Minister Rumen Radev has adopted a cautious stance without directly accusing Russia, leading to opposition protests accusing him of being too lenient towards Moscow. The attacks involved incidents like the sinking of the “HS Dignity” and damage to the “Chelsea 3.” Since February 2022, the Black Sea has become a war zone following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Although Bulgarian authorities have not provided concrete evidence of responsibility, Radev summoned the Russian ambassador, stating that logic points towards the Russian Federation because Ukraine would not attack its own ships. Following this, Radev consulted with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who expressed concern. He also coordinated with Romania and Turkey regarding Black Sea navigation safety. Domestically, these events have fueled political conflict during Bulgaria’s presidential election campaign, with the opposition accusing Radev of appeasement. Despite criticism, Radev maintains a cautious approach while announcing potential adherence to NATO anti-drone initiatives, though military experts note that Bulgarian forces are currently unprepared for modern drone threats.
