Ship attacks: Radev seeks closer ties with Romania and Turkey

After the new drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev spoke by phone on Tuesday with his Romanian counterpart Ilie Bolojan. According to BNT, both sides stressed the need for even closer cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. The stated aim is regional security and safe navigation. No concrete agreements were announced.

Earlier, Radev had spoken with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, calling for joint efforts to stop the attacks. According to the government, both pledged solidarity and support in establishing the circumstances of the incidents. Radev also asked for help in strengthening surveillance of Bulgaria's airspace and maritime space. He plans to raise the issue at the EU summit on 15-16 October.

The opposition is demanding a tougher line from the government. GERB-SDS will collect signatures for an extraordinary sitting of parliament with a closed part in which the government and the services would report, its politician Daniel Mitov said. The Democratic Bulgaria alliance called, among other things, for a hearing of the prime minister and the heads of the intelligence services. Petar Vitanov, parliamentary group leader of the ruling Progressive Bulgaria, said the government was fully following NATO protocol.