NATO will reinforce its presence in the Black Sea after the latest drone attacks

NATO has decided to strengthen its presence in the Black Sea in response to recent drone attacks against commercial shipping, widely attributed to Russia. This was decided by the ambassadors of the Atlantic Alliance after a meeting at the headquarters of the defense organization in Brussels that had as its central point the security situation in a key maritime area for trade, but one of high tension due to the continued war that Moscow continues to wage against Ukraine.

“NATO will send additional assets to the region, including support for surveillance, reconnaissance and forensics,” announced Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart in a message on social media at the end of the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's main political decision-making body. The spokesman for the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE), Colonel Martin L. O'Donnell, has specified that, as agreed, "the allies have sent or will send more maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, explosive disposal teams, intelligence personnel, drones and other resources to the Black Sea." However, he pointed out, “the most important thing we can do is improve our knowledge of the situation in the region through a greater number of sensors and data exchange.”

Hart, for his part, recalled that this is not the first effort made in the region, given that the Alliance has already strengthened its presence on the eastern flank, "including anti-drone capabilities." The NATO spokesperson also stressed that the 32 members of the Alliance have committed to continuing “united and ensuring that we are prepared and capable of facing any threat and keeping safe the billion people” who live under the largest defensive umbrella in the world.

The decision to reinforce surveillance and patrols in the Black Sea has been taken after the meetings held by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in recent days with countries affected by the new threat, especially Bulgaria and Romania, but also Turkey. Last week, in parallel with the EU leaders' summit held in Brussels, the Dutchman received the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Rumen Radev, and the Romanian President, Nicusor Dan, to discuss the situation after several drone attacks against commercial ships off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria that also provoked strong condemnation from the European Union. This same Tuesday he also planned to meet at his residence in Brussels with the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan.

After his meeting with Rutte on Thursday, the Romanian president described as “unacceptable” the attacks against merchant ships carried out “very close” to the Bulgarian and Romanian coasts and which, he recalled, have left “sailors dead, injured and missing.”

“This has to end,” he also claimed during his stay in Brussels. "Human lives, global trade and essential infrastructure are at stake. We unite in defense of a safe and open Black Sea, for the good of Romania, Bulgaria, Europe and the entire world," he warned, in a message that he also conveyed during his bilateral meetings within the framework of the European Council, among others with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.