France backs Black Sea security hub in Varna during minister's visit
France's foreign minister backed a Black Sea maritime security hub in Varna and Constanta at the Naval Academy; the mayor asked for more drone tracking.
France will support a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub to be based in Varna and Constanta, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said during a visit to Varna’s Naval Academy on Saturday, 24 October 2026. He was hosted by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova. Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, who also met Barrot, used the visit to call for stronger drone monitoring over the western Black Sea.
What is the security hub?
According to BTA, the hub is a joint Bulgarian-Romanian project meant to strengthen shared risk analysis in the Black Sea region and help protect critical maritime infrastructure. Petrova said the work is now on the technical side of setting it up at the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna, which will be the local partner. She noted that the facilities will need to be expanded and stressed the importance of French support and of securing European funding.
Barrot described the hub as an EU project to protect the bloc’s eastern flank against hybrid attacks. The two ministers also discussed a roadmap for the Bulgarian-French strategic partnership, which dates back to 2008.
Why now?
Petrova pointed to the series of attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea in recent weeks — including drone strikes on two vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in early October. She said Bulgaria had responded quickly in evacuating sailors and coordinating with NATO and EU allies, and called for a moratorium on attacks on merchant ships.
What did Varna’s mayor say?
In a Facebook post quoted by Varna24, Mayor Kotsev said he had asked for a significant increase in capacity to monitor and track unmanned aircraft in the western Black Sea. Combined with support for European anti-drone initiatives, he said, this would improve security in the region and in Varna in particular. Kotsev added that he receives diplomatic missions almost every week and that security is always the main topic.
What it means for Varna
Hosting part of a European maritime security platform would add to Varna’s role as Bulgaria’s main naval and port city. No timeline or budget for the hub was announced during the visit. For the wider picture, see why the Black Sea became the world’s deadliest shipping route in 2026. For background on the navy, mines and the Russian consulate, see our explainer on Varna and Black Sea security.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the Black Sea Maritime Security Hub?
A planned Bulgarian-Romanian platform, based in Varna and Constanta, for joint risk analysis and protection of critical maritime infrastructure.
Who visited Varna?
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, together with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova.
What did Varna's mayor ask for?
Mayor Blagomir Kotsev called for much more capacity to monitor and track drones in the western Black Sea.
