Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will travel to Bulgaria and Romania next week. This trip is planned following a series of drone attacks on Black Sea vessels that have heightened security tensions in NATO's eastern region.
Drone Attacks and Their Consequences
At least seven commercial vessels were targeted by drone attacks in the Black Sea last month, resulting in two sailors killed and at least 25 missing. Romania holds Russia responsible for these attacks, which have dangerously brought the violence of the Ukraine war close to NATO territory.
Romania has warned that these attacks are part of Moscow's escalating aggression against Ukraine, while Bulgaria has not officially held Russia responsible, instead referring to drones coming from the "eastern side."
Security and Diplomatic Developments
Security concerns have also reached the Bulgarian coast, when a local resident found a drone near the coastal town of Shabla. This flying object appears to have washed ashore. The mayor of the town, Marian Zhechev, stated that the source of this drone and its connection to recent attacks have not yet been determined.
The details of von der Leyen's travel itinerary are not yet fully clear, and some offices of the European Commission are unaware of this trip. It is also unclear whether she will be accompanied by other European officials such as António Costa, President of the European Council, or Kaja Kallas, President of the EU's foreign policy.
The plans come as NATO allies have increased surveillance over the Black Sea. On Tuesday, Italian, British, and American reconnaissance aircraft were flying simultaneously in the region, and France has also extended the deployment of a maritime patrol aircraft in Romania.
The deteriorating security situation has fueled diplomatic efforts to protect commercial vessels. At a meeting on Saturday of G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta, Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, announced that India and Turkey have made proposals to assist grain-carrying vessels in safely navigating the Black Sea.
