NATO chief meets Bulgarian and Romanian leaders over Black Sea drone strikes

In Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte convened with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Romanian President Nicușor Dan to address a wave of drone attacks that have targeted commercial vessels in the Black Sea. The incidents include two drones striking ships inside Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone on October 13, sinking one, and attacks on two Romanian chemical tankers that left seven crew members unaccounted for.

Rutte affirmed that NATO has already reinforced its eastern flank and is upgrading its counter-drone measures, while also tightening surveillance at Sofia’s request. Romania’s defence minister, Radu Miruță, suggested establishing a joint command among Black Sea littoral states—Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey—to coordinate responses to drones, sunken ships and naval mines, a proposal NATO is monitoring. Bulgaria is also urging a moratorium on drone strikes against civilian maritime targets. After the meeting, Rutte received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing an energy ceasefire and continued support for Kyiv through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List.