Bulgaria confirms US Navy aircraft patrol over Black Sea

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed Tuesday that a US Navy aircraft is operating over the Black Sea following drone attacks on merchant vessels in the region, according to BTA news agency.

Radev told reporters that the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft was conducting reconnaissance missions to detect potential threats, and that NATO allies had responded swiftly to Bulgaria’s request for assistance.

He said Bulgaria had fully mobilized its surveillance, reconnaissance, detection and response capabilities, and that further assistance from NATO allies was expected.

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the aircraft belonged to NATO and should not be associated with any particular country.

Stoyanov said the Poseidon had no strike capability and would continue its missions for as long as necessary.

"The decision for it to be here was taken jointly by Bulgaria and NATO," he said, adding that information gathered during the missions was being shared with the alliance.

The Bulgarian Defense Ministry confirmed earlier that a US military aircraft had conducted a patrol over the Black Sea as part of measures to strengthen vigilance.

Bulgaria requested air patrols and additional military capabilities from NATO allies last week, including missile systems, anti-drone systems and patrol aircraft.

Four vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea have been attacked during the last month, with two sinking.