Bulgaria in talks with NATO allies to strengthen air surveillance and defence

Bulgaria is holding talks with NATO allies on strengthening air surveillance and air defence, Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov said.

“It is too early to say exactly what assistance Bulgaria will receive from NATO, as further talks are pending. However, Bulgaria’s airspace is already being protected by its own fighter aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems”, Minister Stoyanov told Bulgarian National Television (BNT). He expressed hope that an answer would be available this week on “what can be provided to Bulgaria.”

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Dimitar Stoyanov also said there was still no information about the ownership of the drones that attacked two commercial vessels in the Black Sea off the Bulgarian coast.

“However, if we find drone debris and it is proven that the drones are Russian, the next step would naturally be to summon Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova again and hand over a diplomatic note. But if they belong to another country, the same procedure would follow. Which country could that be? Ukraine, for instance”, Dimitar Stoyanov added.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov