NATO plans more Black Sea patrol aircraft and drones after ship attacks

NATO said on Tuesday 20 October that it would send more maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea region after drone attacks on commercial ships near Romania and Bulgaria. The decision followed talks among alliance ambassadors about security in the area. [4]

NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the extra assets would support surveillance, reconnaissance and forensic work. Member states have sent, or will send, intelligence personnel and teams to examine explosives, a military spokesperson told Reuters. The number of additional aircraft and drones, and when they will be operating, remains unclear. [3] [4]

Several ships were struck in October, leaving crew members dead or missing. Bulgaria had sought help in response; its prime minister, Rumen Radev, said on Tuesday that a US P-8 Poseidon aircraft had begun patrolling the Black Sea after the request. That patrol is distinct from confirmation that NATO’s newly announced package is in place. [5] [3]

Radev has pointed towards Russia as the likely attacker, but said he could not prove it. NATO has not attributed the recent attacks to any country, Reuters reported. [5] [4]

The alliance was already using this kind of surveillance in the region: in July 2023, it said it was stepping up Black Sea reconnaissance with patrol aircraft and drones. Tuesday’s announcement promises more support, but does not establish how much extra capacity it will bring. [2]