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The defense ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey strongly condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea in a joint statement issued after a meeting of defense ministers and chiefs of general staff in Sofia.

The three NATO allies agreed to step up information and intelligence sharing, improve maritime situational awareness and strengthen early warning capacity, with the next round of consultations set for Ankara and Bucharest.

Joint condemnation after Sofia meeting

Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Romanian Defense Minister Ştefan-Radu Oprea denounced the attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea in a joint statement released after the Turkey-Bulgaria-Romania Defense Ministers and Chiefs of General Staff Meeting held in Sofia.

Freedom of navigation and legal obligations

The statement described the Black Sea as a vital corridor for international trade as well as for grain, fertilizer and energy supplies. "We wish to confirm the importance of freedom of navigation and maritime safety. Disruptions in maritime traffic threaten global supply chains, food and energy security, and in particular fragile regions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia," it said.

The ministers called on all parties to refrain from any actions that could endanger commercial vessels, maritime infrastructure and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. They voiced deep sorrow over the loss of innocent seafarers killed in the attacks and expressed full solidarity with the states whose citizens and ships have been affected.

The statement also reminded all parties of the need to遵守 international law, including the Montreux Convention and applicable international humanitarian law, in order to safeguard Black Sea security, preserve regional stability and facilitate safe maritime activity.

Cooperation measures and next steps

Noting that Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey contribute to the region's security needs as NATO allies, the statement welcomed the alliance's support for deterrence and defense.

The three countries agreed to take appropriate measures to increase information and intelligence sharing where needed, improve situational awareness on maritime security and enhance early warning capacity, coordinating with NATO in line with these objectives. They pledged to continue strengthening cooperation and coordination among their armed forces to support security and stability in the Black Sea.

The statement said the talks would help facilitate consultations, information exchange and the identification of practical measures contributing to regional security and stability. The next round of consultations was decided to be held in Ankara and Bucharest.

Key takeaways

• Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey strongly condemned attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea after the Sofia meeting.
• The ministers called on all parties to protect commercial shipping, maritime infrastructure and freedom of navigation.
• The three NATO allies agreed to expand intelligence sharing, maritime situational awareness and early warning capacity.
• The next round of consultations is planned for Ankara and Bucharest.