Bulgaria expects NATO answer this week on extra Black Sea air defences

Bulgaria expects clarity by the end of the week on what additional capabilities NATO will provide to protect its Black Sea coast, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said on Sunday. Speaking after a ceremony marking Military Paratrooper Day in Sofia, he said it was too early to say exactly what Bulgaria would receive and that more talks were ahead, the BTA news agency reported.

Sofia has sent two letters to its allies, in late August and on Oct. 13, requesting additional air surveillance, air patrols and surface-to-air missile systems, depending on partners' capabilities. Chief of Defence Admiral Eftimov is in contact with NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Grynkewich. For now, the airspace is guarded by Bulgarian fighter jets and somewhat outdated air defence systems concentrated in the east of the country, Stoyanov said.

Stoyanov again cautioned against hasty conclusions about the origin of the drones that recently struck merchant ships in the Black Sea. Troops found no drone debris on the cargo ship Able, though some may be in the underwater section, he told 24 Chasa. He said he hoped for a thorough examination of the damaged freighter Chelsea 3 in Burgas, adding that military prosecutors have opened an investigation.