US Poseidon patrols Black Sea as Bulgaria awaits allied drone investigators

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft has begun flying over the Black Sea to gather intelligence and detect potential threats, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Tuesday. Speaking in Tvarditsa at the groundbreaking of a battery storage park, Radev said some allies had responded quickly after his talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "We expect more help," he said, adding that the length of the mission would depend on the situation. The Defence Ministry confirmed the patrol to state news agency BTA.

On the Oct. 13 attack on the cargo ship Chelsea 3, Radev said investigators were examining drone debris and running chemical analysis to identify the explosive. He said teams from allied countries would arrive on Wednesday with high-tech equipment to help establish what type of drones were used.

Radev dismissed reports that commercial shipping had halted, saying, "The ships have not stopped." He said Varna and Burgas had handled 30 more vessels since the start of October than in the same period of 2025. According to Mediapool, the aircraft flew in from a base in Sicily and landed in Varna on Oct. 18.