BRUSSELS - NATO will send additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea following a series of deadly attacks on merchant shipping near Romania and Bulgaria.
The decision followed a discussion on Black Sea security by the North Atlantic Council, the alliance’s main political decision-making body, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Reuters reported Tuesday.
U.S. Army Col. Martin L. O’Donnell, a NATO military spokesperson, said allies had sent or would send aircraft, radar systems, drones, intelligence personnel and teams to conduct forensic analysis of explosives used in the attacks.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the additional support would strengthen surveillance, intelligence gathering and forensic work. She said the alliance had already reinforced its eastern flank, including counter-drone capabilities, and would remain prepared to address threats to its members.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said a U.S. P-8 Poseidon had already begun Black Sea patrols to conduct reconnaissance and identify activity that could pose a risk. The aircraft arrived in Varna from Sicily, according to air-traffic tracking data cited by Agence France-Presse.
NATO has not attributed the recent attacks to any country. Military analysts cited by Reuters said Russia was almost certainly responsible, but Moscow has not acknowledged responsibility.
The attacks have increased concern about the safety of commercial shipping along the coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria and on trade routes used for Ukrainian exports. Seven sailors were reported missing after drones struck two chemical tankers near Romania last week. At least five other cargo vessels were hit near Romania and Bulgaria during the previous 10 days, leaving at least 23 sailors missing or dead.
The deployment was first reported in Russian by Vesti Baku.