European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to travel to Bulgaria and Romania next week after a series of drone attacks on Black Sea vessels that have heightened security tensions along NATO's eastern flank, according to three European Commission officials familiar with the plans.
At least seven commercial vessels were reportedly struck by drones in the Black Sea last month, leaving two sailors dead and at least 25 missing. The attacks, which Romania blames on Russia, have brought the violence of the war in Ukraine dangerously close to NATO territory. "It's now the deadliest shipping route in the world," one of the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity about security-related plans.
Bulgaria has stopped short of formally blaming Moscow, referring instead to drones coming from "an eastern direction." The security concerns reached Bulgaria's shores on Friday, when a local resident discovered a drone washed up near the coastal town of Shabla. The aerial vehicle appeared to have been carried ashore by the sea, said the municipality's mayor, Mariyan Zhechev. The drone's origin and whether it was connected to the recent attacks on commercial shipping have not been established.
In Bucharest on Monday, von der Leyen will meet Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Prime Minister Luca Niculescu. On Tuesday, she will meet Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev in Varna and visit the Nikola Vapsarov Naval Academy. It is unclear whether she will be accompanied by anyone else, such as European Council President António Costa or EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The visit comes before she attends the COP climate summit in Turkey.
NATO allies have stepped up surveillance over the Black Sea following the attacks. Italian, British and American reconnaissance aircraft were spotted conducting simultaneous missions over the region on Tuesday, according to Bulgarian broadcaster bTV, while France has extended the deployment of a maritime patrol aircraft in Romania. Diplomatic efforts to protect commercial shipping are also under way: at Saturday's G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India and Turkey had put forward proposals to help grain-carrying vessels navigate the Black Sea safely amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The Black Sea has become what one EU official calls "the deadliest shipping route in the world," threatening commercial shipping and grain transport during wartime.
- The attacks bring the war in Ukraine close to NATO territory, testing the alliance's eastern flank and prompting increased surveillance.
Background
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has turned the Black Sea into a contested zone, with repeated attacks on commercial shipping disrupting grain exports from the region. Romania and Bulgaria are NATO members on the alliance's eastern flank, and the reported strikes have raised concern that the conflict could spill closer to NATO territory.
Key Perspectives
European Commission official: called the Black Sea "the deadliest shipping route in the world."
Romania: blames Russia for the strikes, warning they are part of Moscow's escalating aggression against Ukraine.
Bulgaria: has stopped short of formally blaming Moscow, referring instead to drones coming from "an eastern direction."
Marco Rubio: said India and Turkey had put forward proposals to help grain-carrying vessels navigate the Black Sea safely.
What to Watch
- Whether von der Leyen is joined by António Costa or Kaja Kallas on the visit.
- Whether the drone found near Shabla is linked to the recent attacks on commercial shipping.
- The fate of the India-Turkey proposals for safe navigation of grain-carrying vessels.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedVon der Leyen is to visit Bulgaria and Romania next week after Black Sea drone attacks.Politico Europe: “European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is slated to visit Bulgaria and Romania next week, following a series of drone attacks on Black Sea vessels”
- SupportedAn EU official called the route “the deadliest shipping route in the world.”Politico Europe: ““It’s now the deadliest shipping route in the world,” said one of the officials, who was granted anonymity to speak about security-related plans.”
- SupportedNATO allies have stepped up surveillance over the Black Sea following the attacks.Politico Europe: “The plans come as NATO allies step up surveillance over the Black Sea following the attacks on commercial shipping.”
- SupportedThree European Commission officials familiar with the plans said von der Leyen is expected to travel to both countries.Politico Europe: “According to three European Commission officials familiar with the plans, von der Leyen is expected to travel to both countries before attending the COP climate summit in Turkey.”
- SupportedAt least seven commercial vessels were reportedly struck by drones in the Black Sea last month.Politico Europe: “At least seven commercial vessels were reportedly struck by drones in the Black Sea last month, leaving two sailors dead and at least 25 missing.”
- SupportedTwo sailors died in the attacks.Politico Europe: “At least seven commercial vessels were reportedly struck by drones in the Black Sea last month, leaving two sailors dead and at least 25 missing.”
- SupportedAt least 25 people were missing after the attacks.Politico Europe: “At least seven commercial vessels were reportedly struck by drones in the Black Sea last month, leaving two sailors dead and at least 25 missing.”
- SupportedRomania blames Russia for the attacks.Politico Europe: “The attacks, which Romania blames on Russia, have brought the violence of the war in Ukraine dangerously close to NATO territory.”
- SupportedAn anonymous official said the route was the deadliest in the world, speaking about security-related plans.Politico Europe: ““It’s now the deadliest shipping route in the world,” said one of the officials, who was granted anonymity to speak about security-related plans.”
- SupportedBulgaria has referred to drones coming from “an eastern direction” rather than formally blaming Moscow.Politico Europe: “Bulgaria has stopped short of formally blaming Moscow, referring instead to drones coming from “an eastern direction.””
- SupportedA local resident found a drone washed up near Shabla on Friday.Politico Europe: “The security concerns reached Bulgaria’s shores Friday, when a local resident discovered a drone washed up near the coastal town of Shabla.”
- SupportedVon der Leyen will meet Romanian leaders in Bucharest on Monday and Bulgaria’s prime minister in Varna on Tuesday.Politico Europe: “In Bucharest on Monday she will meet with Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Prime Minister Luca Niculescu. On Tuesday, she will meet Bulgarian Prime Minsiter Rumen Radev in Varna”