Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye to expand tasks in Black Sea in framework of Nato Mine Countermeasures Group

Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye will expand the scope of the tasks they perform in the Black Sea within the framework of the Nato Mine Countermeasures Group, Bulgarian Navy commander Rear Admiral Kiril Mihailov said on October 20.

In addition to detecting and neutralising mines and drones, they will also monitor the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, Mihailov said.

He said that the ratification of the new mission by the Turkish Parliament is expected and then it will begin to be implemented.

Each of the three participating countries must officially declare what it recognises as critical underwater infrastructure, so that this can be included in the group’s future plans and so that this monitoring and surveillance can be carried out for these, be it gas pipelines, pipelines or internet, optical or power electrical connections, which exist in the Black Sea, he said.

Mihailov told reporters that the efforts of the Navy to ensure the safety of Bulgarian maritime spaces have not ceased since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

“So far, we have destroyed six floating mines, and since the beginning of this year alone, more than 100 drones and their remains have been discovered, 35 of which posed a real danger and were destroyed,” he said.

A joint operation of all branches of the Bulgarian armed forces is underway to ensure continuous monitoring of Bulgarian territorial waters, with the Navy leading the way, Mihailov said.

“We are also continuing the actions in a coalition format together with our neighbouring Black Sea countries, and for several days a Poseidon aircraft from the US maritime patrol aviation has also been involved in these,” he said.

(Photo: Bulgarian Navy)