In brief
Recent drone attacks on merchant ships in the Bulgarian exclusive economic zone prompted defence ministers from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey to convene in Sofia, where they condemned the incidents and agreed to a trilateral coordination mechanism. The talks focused on independent measures to safeguard freedom of navigation and on future initiatives such as low‑flying‑threat counter‑measures and the procurement of MICA surface‑to‑air missiles for patrol vessels.
Following the striking of a container ship by three maritime drones about 21 nautical miles southeast of Bulgaria’s coastal town of Shabla, defence ministers from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey met in Sofia to condemn the attacks on Black Sea merchant vessels and to outline a joint approach to enhancing maritime security. The meeting, held at Boyana Residence on the evening of 28 October 2026, brought together Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov, Romanian Defence Minister Stefan‑Radu Oprea, Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Dragos‑Dumitru Iacob, Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of Defence General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu.
Stoyanov opened the talks by noting that the attacks had taken place “a week or two earlier” within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone—a coastal area defined by international law as the zone over which a coastal state has sovereign rights for the exploration and use of marine resources, up to 200 nautical miles from its shore. He said the three countries intended to set up a coordination mechanism “to facilitate a faster response to developments affecting Black Sea security.” The ministers agreed that the mechanism would focus solely on measures the states could take independently to preserve freedom of navigation, and that no memorandum directed at Russia or any other external actor would be considered at this stage.
During the discussion, Stoyanov also highlighted two memoranda the Council of Ministers was expected to adopt on the same day. One concerned Bulgaria’s participation in a project to counter low‑flying threats, while the other dealt with the country’s acquisition of MICA surface‑to‑air missiles for its patrol ships. MICA is a short‑range missile system designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters and sea‑based air threats, with a range of up to 25 kilometers. The procurement would modernise Bulgaria’s air defence capabilities on the Black Sea coast.
Directly after the meeting, Stoyanov addressed the press and stated that “Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye unequivocally condemned drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea.” He thanked his Romanian and Turkish counterparts for accepting the invitation, describing their participation as a sign of joint responsibility “amid a complex regional situation.” The statement coincided with reports that the container ship struck by maritime drones had suffered mild damage but no loss of life. The incident was a continuation of a series of drone attacks on merchant vessels in the Black Sea region that have raised concerns among shipping and defence communities.
According to an accompanying report from Türkiye Today, the three countries shared a common position in strongly condemning the “tragic incidents” and pledged to strengthen regional security cooperation to uphold freedom of navigation. The report reiterates that the measures agreed upon would be made public only after the three sides reach a consensus.
From a technical perspective, the coordination mechanism will likely involve sharing real‑time surveillance data, establishing common operating procedures for maritime drones, and synchronising rapid‑reaction protocols among naval patrol ships. Each nation will retain the flexibility to deploy its own defence systems, such as the aforementioned MICA missiles, to intercept low‑flying air threats that penetrate the exclusive economic zones of the participating states.
Both Bulgaria and Romania have recently upgraded their coastal radar arms to detect and track drone activity at unprecedented ranges. Turkey, for its part, operates a network of naval and aerial assets capable of monitoring the Black Sea and feeding intelligence into a joint defence grid. The trilateral framework will formally institutionalise these shared capabilities, creating an integrated front against asymmetric threats like maritime drones.
In light of the attacks, the three countries are also exploring the procurement of advanced counter‑drone technologies, including electro‑optical targeting systems and electronic warfare suites designed to disrupt drone control links. The defence ministers identified the acquisition of such systems as a key element of the next phase of the trilateral accord, though specific purchase plans have not yet been disclosed.
In addition to the technical measures, the diplomats noted that the coordination mechanism would serve an informational function, allowing each nation to publish joint statements and warning notices to maritime traffic in the region. This shared communication channel aims to increase situational awareness for commercial vessels and reduce the likelihood of future attacks.
Future steps will require formal approval from the ministries of each country, with the decision expected to be announced in the coming days. Until then, the three states have pledged to collaborate closely on intelligence gathering and rapid‑response training exercises designed to validate the new coordination protocols.
While the immediate focus remains on countering maritime drone threats, the trilateral agreement lays a foundation for broader maritime cooperation in the Black Sea, positioning Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey as a consolidated bloc capable of addressing emerging security challenges in both the waterway and the surrounding airspace.
