Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey urge NATO to shift anti-drone defences
Suspected Russian drone attacks have sunk or damaged five ships in the Black Sea within the exclusive economic zones of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania. The incidents have prompted Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey to ask NATO to consider moving existing anti-drone defences to the region, as the attacks threaten shipping and freedom of navigation.
On 13 October, the cargo ship Dignity sank and 11 crew members remained missing, while all 15 crew of the Ukrainian-operated Chelsea 3 were evacuated after it was struck by drones. Earlier attacks sank the Alfa Watan, whose 10 crew are presumed dead, and the Royad Mammadov, while the Able caught fire; its 18 crew were rescued. Bulgaria plans to join NATO’s Drone Edge initiative, which aims to raise $40 billion over five years for counter-drone capabilities. The attacks’ origin has not been proven, and the Black Sea is a vital route for Ukrainian agricultural exports.
- Five ships have been attacked in NATO members’ Black Sea zones.
- NATO is considering moving anti-drone defences to the region.
- The attacks threaten vital shipping routes and crews.
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The Black Sea borders Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, all members of NATO, a military alliance. Its waters include exclusive economic zones, where coastal countries have rights to resources and regulate some activities, while ships generally retain freedom of navigation.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Black Sea has been a contested area, and attacks on ships have raised concerns about safety and responsibility. The attacks described have not been conclusively traced to Russia.
The sea is also a major route for Ukrainian agricultural exports, so disruption can affect shipping and trade beyond the region. NATO’s Drone Edge initiative is intended to fund counter-drone capabilities; Bulgaria plans to join it.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The attacks have caused deaths, missing crew and damage to commercial shipping inside NATO members’ exclusive economic zones, so Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey can reasonably argue that NATO should shift existing anti-drone defences to the Black Sea. Better protection could safeguard crews and freedom of navigation while strengthening deterrence, without waiting for a new regional capability to be built.
The case against
NATO could reasonably be cautious about moving defences before the attacks’ origin is established, since doing so might raise tensions or draw the alliance deeper into the conflict. Reallocating existing systems could also leave other areas less protected; the allies may prefer to assess the threat and pursue shared counter-drone investment, such as Bulgaria’s planned participation in Drone Edge.
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Originally published by Ars Technica as “NATO may redeploy anti-drone defenses as attacks sink more Black Sea shipping”.