Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov talked on Tuesday with Radu Miruta, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Romania, and with Yasar Guler, Minister of National Defence of Turkiye, the Defence Ministry’s press service announced.

The main topic of both telephone conversations was the security situation in the Black Sea region in the wake of the overnight incidents, in which two merchant ships were struck. Minister Stoyanov stated that the Bulgarian government condemns the attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea as a gross violation of international maritime law.

“The situation in the Black Sea is becoming increasingly complex and requires us, as allies, to take enhanced coordinated action. Ensuring security and freedom of navigation in the region is in our mutual interest and our shared responsibility. Only through effective information-sharing, enhanced surveillance and close coordination can we respond to the growing risks and safeguard security in the Black Sea,” Stoyanov is quoted as saying. He called on his colleagues to take joint action to strengthen surveillance and the exchange of intelligence between the three countries and NATO structures.

The three ministers expressed their readiness to deepen collaboration and take coordinated action to safeguard the security of shipping in the Black Sea region.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Tuesday reported new drone attacks on ships in the Black Sea, describing them as “absolutely unacceptable”. A ship 18 nautical miles east of Byala was struck by three aerial drones, while another vessel, 17 nautical miles east of Krapets, was hit and sunk, with one crew member rescued.

In conversations that took place on the phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev called for joint efforts to put a stop to the attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, the Government Information Service announced.