Von der Leyen to visit Black Sea as deadly drone attacks hit shipping

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is due to visit Bulgaria and Romania next week, following a series of drone attacks on Black Sea vessels that have heightened security tensions along NATO's eastern flank.

According to three European Commission officials familiar with the plans, von der Leyen is expected to travel to both countries after attending the COP climate summit in Turkey. One of the officials described the Black Sea route by saying it was now the deadliest shipping route in the world.

At least seven commercial vessels were reportedly struck by drones in the Black Sea last month. Two sailors were killed in the attacks and at least 25 are missing.

Romania has blamed the strikes on Russia and warned that they are part of Moscow's escalating aggression against Ukraine, bringing the violence of the war dangerously close to NATO territory. Bulgaria has stopped short of formally blaming Moscow, referring instead to drones coming from an eastern direction.

The security concerns reached Bulgaria's shores on Friday, when a local resident discovered a drone washed up near the coastal town of Shabla. The town's mayor, Mariyan Zhechev, said the aerial vehicle appeared to have been carried ashore by the sea. The drone's origin and whether it was connected to the recent attacks on commercial shipping have not been established.

Details of von der Leyen's itinerary remain scarce. It is also unclear whether she will be accompanied by European Council President Antonio Costa or EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

NATO allies have stepped up surveillance over the Black Sea following the attacks. Bulgarian broadcaster bTV reported that Italian, British and American reconnaissance aircraft were spotted conducting simultaneous missions over the region on Tuesday, while France has extended the deployment of a maritime patrol aircraft in Romania.

Diplomatic efforts to protect commercial shipping are also under way. Speaking at Saturday's G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India and Turkey had put forward proposals to help grain-carrying vessels navigate the Black Sea safely amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine war.