Bulgaria plans to submit a request to join a NATO initiative against low-flying air threats by October 30, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said during a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. The country must first clarify the size of its financial commitment before formally applying.
Stoyanov's announcement came one day after a drone attack sank a cargo vessel off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, the second such incident in a week. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that drones attacked two vessels near Bulgarian territorial waters; one sank and 11 sailors went missing.
"Bulgaria will participate in this project as soon as possible. The assessment is that by October 30 we will already be part of the program," Stoyanov said, according to local media reports.
When asked by deputy Hamid Hamid about Bulgaria's participation in allied air defense and counter-drone programs, Stoyanov clarified that Bulgaria is not withdrawing from the "Drone Edge" initiative. The country continues preparations for joint procurement of drone-fighting systems with Spain.
"I have never said that Bulgaria will exit the 'Drone Edge' initiative. We expect to sign a memorandum of understanding with Spain for joint procurement of these systems at any moment. This initiative represents a virtual marketplace for potential future development and joint purchase of anti-drone systems," Stoyanov stated.
The recent drone attacks have highlighted the growing threat posed to commercial shipping near NATO's southeastern flank, stemming from the drone warfare linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The incidents have prompted Bulgaria to seek enhanced defensive capabilities from the alliance in the Black Sea region.
Radev convened an emergency meeting of the Security Council of the Council of Ministers following the Tuesday attack and summoned Russia's ambassador for talks. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukrainian citizens were among those affected by the Russian night attack on merchant vessels near Bulgarian territorial waters.
Search and rescue operations for the missing sailors, which had been suspended due to poor weather and darkness, resumed on Wednesday, according to Bulgaria's Transport Ministry.