Bulgaria approves purchase of seven mine-hunting vessels from Belgium and Netherlands

Bulgaria has greenlit the purchase of seven mine-hunting vessels from Belgium and the Netherlands, a move designed to enhance NATO's capacity for clearing naval mines and ensuring the safety of shipping lanes in the Black Sea. This decision comes as part of broader NATO efforts to bolster regional security.

The agreement involves Bulgaria acquiring three mine-hunting vessels from the Netherlands, with a separate deal covering four additional vessels from Belgium. The Netherlands will refurbish the Dutch-supplied ships to improve their technical capabilities and operational capacity before the transfer. Bulgaria will cover the costs associated with the repair and restoration to bring all seven vessels up to NATO operational readiness standards.

This initiative is linked to a broader NATO strategy. In July, Bulgaria, alongside Romania and Turkey, agreed to expand a joint task force focused on mine countermeasures in the Black Sea. These three NATO members, sharing the sea with Georgia, Russia, and Ukraine, established the mine-clearing task force in 2024 to address the escalating threat posed by floating mines in the wake of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.