Bulgaria Seeks NATO Defenses After Black Sea Drone Strikes

Bulgaria has officially asked NATO for warplanes and anti-drone equipment to strengthen its security following recent drone strikes on trade ships in the Black Sea. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov shared this update on Friday, October 16, 2026, after drones struck and burned two vessels close to the Romanian coast this week. Another trading ship sank near Bulgarian waters on Tuesday, October 13, following a drone hit, which led Sofia to call in the Russian ambassador for talks. These strikes show how drone warfare tied to the Russia-Ukraine war now threatens merchant shipping near the southeastern edge of NATO. Mr Stoyanov noted that officials have written to the NATO chief and top allied commander to ask for stronger defenses and extra troops on the ground, and they now wait for a reply. He also plans to meet his counterparts from Romania and Turkey soon to plan joint steps in the region. NATO leader Mark Rutte spoke with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Romanian President Nicusor Dan on Thursday, stating that the alliance will keep working with Black Sea members to adjust security as required. A NATO official added that envoys from all 32 member countries will talk about the request next week.

Context

Bulgaria wants a pause on attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea and plans to join a NATO anti-drone program by the end of October. The Black Sea is a key shipping route for goods like grain, making any disruption there a major concern for global trade and regional security.