After a series of attacks attributed to Russia, NATO deploys reinforcements in the Black Sea

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NATO announced on Tuesday the deployment of reinforcements in the Black Sea, after a series of drone attacks targeting commercial ships and were attributed to Russia.

Since the beginning of October, drone attacks have increased off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, adding a new aspect to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ambassadors of NATO member states discussed this issue during a meeting they held on Tuesday in Brussels.

NATO spokeswoman Alison Hart announced at the conclusion of this meeting that the alliance "will send additional military reinforcements to the region, specifically aimed at supporting surveillance, reconnaissance and investigation activities."

She added on the X platform, “We will continue to stand united and will ensure that we are prepared and able to confront any threat.”

Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for NATO's Supreme Commander in Europe, explained that the Allies "have sent or will send to the Black Sea additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems, explosive disposal teams, intelligence personnel, drones" and more.

He stressed that "the most important thing is... strengthening monitoring methods and improving data exchange" to enhance the alliance's knowledge of the situation in the region.

An American P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft began carrying out missions over the Black Sea at the request of Bulgaria, according to what was announced earlier by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.

Drones targeted four commercial ships in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on October 6 and 13. Two of the four ships sank, while 21 sailors are still missing.

As for Romania, it announced on Saturday that it had shot down two Russian drones over the Black Sea.

The Black Sea is an essential global sea route for the export of grains, energy products and raw materials for industry, making its stability crucial to international food and energy security.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas warned on Tuesday that Russia could cause a global food crisis by intensifying its attacks in the region. Callas called on Moscow to stop obstructing the export of Ukrainian grain.

“Six attacks in ten days, by drones suspected to be Russian, represent a dangerous and unacceptable escalation in the Black Sea,” Callas said during a discussion with European representatives in Strasbourg.

Romania and Bulgaria are members of both the European Union and NATO.