France Pledges Support for Bulgarian-Romanian Black Sea Security Hub 2026

Visiting the Naval Academy in Varna on Saturday, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot discussed security in the Black Sea region and bilateral cooperation in the context of the two countries’ strategic partnership. Barrot pledged support for the establishment of a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, to be based in Varna (Bulgaria) and Constanta (Romania).
Petrova said the future security platform which will operate from Varna and Constanta is part of the European strategic approach to security in the region. She noted that at the beginning of the term of the current Bulgarian government, which took office in May, an agreement was reached on a partnership with Romania on the issue, focusing on resisting hybrid and cyber threats and on environmental protection.
The finalized project for the future hub was unveiled by Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu in Luxembourg in June. Toiu said the main goal is to strengthen the Black Sea region’s joint risk analysis capabilities and help protect critical maritime infrastructure. Earlier that month, Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova said that Bulgaria and Romania were jointly developing plans to establish such a facility.
In her remarks in Varna on Saturday, Petrova said: “We are now focusing on the technical aspects of how the hub will be set up at the Naval Academy in Varna. It is clear that the technical foundations are already in place, as is the necessary expertise.” She added that the facilities will need to be expanded and a way found to make use of all the information that will be collected.
The Naval Academy will play a key role, as it will be the partner with which work will be carried out locally, Petrova said. She also stressed the importance of support from France and, at European level, of securing adequate funding for the initiative.
“The past few weeks have been extremely intense as we have witnessed a series of attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea, clearly showing that the sea is increasingly becoming part of the military hostilities,” the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said. She stressed that the Black Sea is crucial not only for our region but also for Europe and other parts of the world whose food security depends on trade through the sea. “Bulgaria responded very responsibly and swiftly, both in evacuating sailors and in coordinating action with its allies within NATO and the European Union,” Petrova said.
She stressed the need to adopt a moratorium on attacks against merchant ships in the Black Sea. According to her, intensive efforts are needed to make this happen at both regional level and within the EU and NATO, with France being one of the countries actively working towards this goal.
Petrova also highlighted bilateral cooperation between Bulgaria and France, noting that the two countries established a strategic relationship in 2008. “The partnership will now receive fresh impetus with the signing of a roadmap, a practical instrument that sets out the direction in which relations will develop and how they will adapt to current realities,” Petrova added. She explained that the partnership covers various areas and continues to expand, with defence, artificial intelligence and space technologies having been added in recent years.
Barrot said the past few weeks have made it clear that Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is expanding. The French Foreign Minister stressed that attacks on merchant ships have taken place very close to Bulgaria’s territorial waters and have also affected Romania. “My message is one of support and solidarity on behalf of France, but also on behalf of Europe,” the guest added, explaining that this support is expressed not only in words but also through concrete action.
Barrot also addressed the signing of the roadmap for the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and France, vowing that Paris will support the establishment of the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub in Varna and Constanta. He said this is an EU project demonstrating the bloc’s intention to protect its eastern flank against hybrid attacks. In his view, the only response to Russia’s escalating aggression is solidarity within Europe: countries should not have to fend for themselves, but should always act together.
“We must remain calm but take a very firm position and continue with the strategy we have been pursuing for more than four years,” Barrot said. He stressed that military, financial and energy support for Ukraine, as well as pressure on Russia, must continue. The minister recalled that the 22nd package of sanctions against Russia is already being prepared and said that active efforts are also needed to combat disinformation on the issue.
Barrot went on to address the need to prepare for peace, stressing that adopting a moratorium on strikes against merchant ships in the Black Sea is part of that process. He added that the idea has been discussed at the latest international meeting in Istanbul, attended by eight Middle Eastern countries.
According to the French Foreign Minister, the whole world could benefit from the signing of such a moratorium, especially the countries of the Middle East and Africa, which need access to Ukrainian and Russian grain to feed their populations. He said that both Russia and Ukraine would also stand to gain from such an agreement. Barrot noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is open to this type of moratorium, but Russia is blocking all initiatives of this kind.

France Pledges Support for Bulgarian-Romanian Black Sea Security Hub 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-24 10:54:00

World news, international news, global news, latest world news, breaking world news, world politics, international politics. Global economy, international business, world markets, global events, international relations, geopolitical news, global affairs. Europe news, European news, EU news, European politics, Balkan news, United States news, UK news, Asia news. Bulgarians abroad, Bulgarian diaspora, Bulgarians overseas, Bulgarian communities abroad, Bulgarian citizens abroad, Bulgarian expats, Bulgarian emigrants. Bulgarian diaspora news, news for Bulgarians abroad, Bulgaria abroad, Bulgarians in Europe, Bulgarians in Germany, Bulgarians in the UK. Bulgarians in Spain, Bulgarians in Italy, Bulgarians in France, Bulgarians in the USA, Bulgarians in Canada, Bulgarians in Greece. Bulgarian communities worldwide, Bulgarian schools abroad, Bulgarian culture abroad, Bulgarian businesses abroad, Bulgarian students abroad, Bulgarian workers abroad. Consular services Bulgaria, Bulgarian embassies, Bulgarian citizens overseas, Bulgarian elections abroad, Bulgarian voting abroad, Bulgarian nationals abroad, Bulgaria international relations.

BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-24 10:54:00