European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Romania and Bulgaria amid a series of deadly drone attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea, Politico reports. According to sources published in the European Commission, the visits are planned for next week after von der Leyen's participation in the climate summit in Turkey. In October, drones attacked at least seven civilian ships in the Black Sea. As a result, two sailors were killed, and at least 25 other people are listed as missing. "This is now the most dangerous shipping lane in the world," said one European official. Romania links what is happening to the escalation of Russian attacks against Ukraine, while Bulgaria refrains from directly blaming Moscow, pointing only to the arrival of drones from the east. Against the background of these incidents, NATO is increasing its aerial surveillance of the Black Sea. According to the Bulgarian media, planes from Italy, Great Britain and the United States simultaneously performed reconnaissance flights over the area. France has also expanded the presence of its maritime patrol aircraft. The situation in the Black Sea is becoming another source of tension on NATO's eastern side, and the security of civilian shipping is one of the main problems of European countries in the region.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Romania and Bulgaria amid a series of deadly drone attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea, Politico reports. According to sources published in the European Commission, the visits are planned for next week after von der Leyen's participation in the climate summit in Turkey. In October, drones attacked at least seven civilian ships in the Black Sea. As a result, two sailors were killed, and at least 25 other people are listed as missing. "This is now the most dangerous shipping lane in the world," said one European official. Romania links what is happening to the escalation of Russian attacks against Ukraine, while Bulgaria refrains from directly blaming Moscow, pointing only to the arrival of drones from the east. Against the background of these incidents, NATO is increasing its aerial surveillance of the Black Sea. According to the Bulgarian media, planes from Italy, Great Britain and the United States simultaneously performed reconnaissance flights over the area. France has also expanded the presence of its maritime patrol aircraft. The situation in the Black Sea is becoming another source of tension on NATO's eastern side, and the security of civilian shipping is one of the main problems of European countries in the region.