Romania-Bulgaria-Turkey Trilateral
Romania will continue to act, together with NATO and regional partners, to strengthen maritime surveillance, enhance response capabilities to drone threats, and protect freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.
Roxana Vasile, 29.10.2026, 14:00
While the Defense Ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey were meeting in Sofia on Wednesday to discuss measures to protect civilian shipping, amidst reciprocal attacks between Russia and Ukraine, a new incident occurred in the Black Sea. A merchant vessel, which had departed from the Israeli port of Haifa and was bound for the Romanian port of Constanța, was struck by drones near the Bulgarian coast. This marks the fifth merchant ship to be attacked by drones off the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea this month. Furthermore, since the beginning of the summer, no fewer than 11 merchant vessels have been struck or sunk near the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. These incidents have resulted in casualties as well as massive material damage. While initially described as isolated events, the steadily rising number of such incidents has become a serious cause for alarm; maritime traffic is now in genuine danger due to drones, as well as due to Russian or Ukrainian naval mines drifting into the area. Yet, the Black Sea serves as a strategic hub connecting Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Consequently, control over this basin and its stability are essential to the energy, commercial, and military security of the entire European continent.
Following a meeting of the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) in Bucharest, a North Atlantic Council session in Brussels, and discussions at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, all taking place last week, a meeting of the Defense Ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey was held in Sofia on Wednesday. According to a statement from the Romanian Ministry of National Defense, Radu Oprea, Dimitar Stoyanov, and Yaşar Güler discussed measures necessary to strengthen both Allied cooperation in the Black Sea and trilateral cooperation. These efforts are intended to help prevent escalation, protect human lives, and ensure the safe conduct of civilian activities in the Black Sea. Minister Oprea firmly condemned the attacks on commercial shipping, emphasizing that they represent a substantial escalation of the risks associated with the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine. He highlighted the necessity of upholding freedom of navigation and protecting civilian vessels and maritime infrastructure.
The Romanian official presented the direct implications of these developments for Romania’s security, as well as the importance of NATO support in strengthening capabilities for surveillance, early warning, and countering drones. At the same time, he emphasized the need to bolster protection measures for critical infrastructure and energy assets within Romania’s exclusive economic zone. Regarding the development of trilateral cooperation, it was agreed to improve maritime situation awareness, to intensify information exchange, and strengthen coordination among the naval forces of the three states. Furthermore, the importance of continuing cooperation within the framework of the trilateral initiative for countering sea mines, MCM Black Sea, was highlighted. “Because the security of the Black Sea is essential to the security of Romania, the region, and the entire North Atlantic Alliance,” stated Defense Minister Radu Oprea. (LS)
