In brief
The three countries condemned recent drone attacks on merchant vessels and agreed to create a coordination mechanism. Defences discussed low‑flying threat countermeasures and new missile systems. The meetings held in Sofia’s Boyana Residence involve defence ministers and chiefs of defence, underscoring a regional effort to secure freedom of navigation.
In Sofia, Bulgaria, a week after a container ship was struck by three maritime drones about 21 nautical miles southeast of Shabla, defence ministers from Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey gathered at the Boyana Residence to condemn the attacks on commercial vessels and to draft a joint security response.
The meeting, held on 28 October 2026, was attended by 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 and Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, along with Chief of Defence General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu. Their presence signalled a regional push to preserve freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, an area pivotal for trade between Europe and the Middle East.
Stoyanov said the talks had been prompted by drone attacks that had come inside Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, and that the three states were seeking a quick‑reaction arrangement to protect merchant traffic. He expressed hope that a common position would be reached by the end of the meeting, and noted that the discussions focused on measures the three governments could enact independently, without directing the effort toward any other state.
"We unequivocally condemn the drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea," Stoyanov told reporters after the session. “Our participation is a clear sign of our shared responsibility to act together amid a complex regional situation.”
Following the plenary discussion, the Bulgarian Cabinet was expected to adopt two memoranda on Wednesday: first, a paper on Bulgaria’s involvement in a project to counter low‑flying threats, and second, a document on procuring MICA surface‑to‑air missiles for patrol ships. The plans underline the focus on strengthening maritime security capabilities in an environment where small, agile drones can strike fast and be difficult to detect.
Romanian and Turkish counterparts echoed Bulgaria’s condemnation and voiced support for a trilateral coordination mechanism. They highlighted the need for joint surveillance networks, information sharing and rapid deployment protocols to respond to threats on the sea lanes that carry essential goods to and from Eastern Europe.
While the ministers did not yet establish a formal treaty, the agreement to set up a coordination framework suggests a baseline for future operational collaboration. The mechanism would facilitate a faster response to developments affecting Black Sea security, as Stoyanov noted, and would allow the three countries to coordinate air defense measures, maritime patrols and intelligence gathering.
This initiative arrives amid growing concerns that the Black Sea, a critical corridor for European trade, is increasingly contested. The drone incidents have raised alarms in international shipping circles, prompting calls for stronger maritime rules and enhanced enforcement. By aligning their defense postures, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey aim to provide a deterrent against hostile acts that could disrupt commercial shipping and jeopardize regional stability.
The trilateral talks underscore how national security agencies can transform diplomatic briefings into concrete operational tools. By focusing on “what the three countries could do independently,” the ministers avoided a direct confrontation with external powers, instead placing the emphasis on shared resilience and mutual assistance. The move is expected to reassure both domestic audiences and international partners that the Black Sea remains a safe passage for commerce.
