Defence ministers and armed-forces chiefs from Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria met in Sofia on 28 October 2026 to address a rise in drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea. The three countries border the waterway. Small ferries and cargo ships have suffered structural damage or total loss after being hit by unmanned aircraft, raising concern for shipping lanes and the economies of coastal states.
Bulgarian Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said a coordinated response was needed and that a common position would help deter further attacks. Senior officials from Turkey and Romania supported that view. They said the three countries were ready to strengthen joint maritime patrols, share real-time intelligence and deploy extra air-defence assets where necessary.
The meeting ended with an ad-hoc joint statement condemning the strikes and committing the three sides to protect commercial shipping routes. Officials said the attacks were likely carried out by non-state groups taking advantage of regional instability, after early speculation had pointed to outside states.
The three countries also announced maritime exercises later in 2026, with their navies planning patrols, anti-drone drills and cross-border coordination. Analysts said the threat underlined the need for better surveillance across the Black Sea. International observers are watching whether any escalation could affect the region's economic stability and international law. The Sofia meeting was described as a practical step toward securing the corridor used by sea-borne trade.