Bulgaria, Romania, and Türkiye are set to bolster their security operations in the Black Sea as part of an expanded mission under the NATO Mine Countermeasures Group. According to Bulgarian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Kiril Mihailov, the initiative aims to protect critical underwater infrastructure, including gas and oil pipelines, internet and fibre-optic cables, and electricity connections.
The expanded mission, announced on October 20, will also involve monitoring underwater infrastructure in addition to existing efforts to detect and neutralize sea mines and drones. The implementation of these new measures is expected to commence following approval by the Turkish Parliament.
Rear Admiral Mihailov highlighted that since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Bulgarian Navy has been actively safeguarding the country’s maritime zones. Bulgarian forces have successfully destroyed six floating mines and identified over 100 drones, of which 35 were deemed significant threats and subsequently neutralized.
Joint operations with neighboring Black Sea countries and international partners, including a US maritime patrol aircraft, are part of ongoing efforts to maintain continuous surveillance of territorial waters. The initiative seeks to enhance maritime security and improve coordination among NATO members in the Black Sea region amid persistent security challenges.