Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey will strengthen coordination to protect commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid drone attacks on civilian ships, Bulgarian Vesti reports. The three countries condemned the attacks and agreed to create a tripartite coordination mechanism in the field of regional security. This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Bulgaria, Dimitr Stoyanov, after meeting in Sofia with his counterparts from Romania and Turkey, as well as with the chiefs of general staffs of the three countries. "The tragic incidents are a dangerous escalation of tension and create serious risks for the safety of navigation," Stoyanov stated. He called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial ships, maritime infrastructure and the security of maritime transport. According to the minister, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, as Black Sea states and NATO allies, bear a common responsibility for ensuring freedom of navigation and maintaining international law. The parties agreed to improve information exchange, raise awareness of the situation in the region and improve early warning systems. The new mechanism will allow holding regular consultations and agree on practical measures to strengthen security in the Black Sea. The next meetings will be held in Bucharest, at the political level, and in Ankara, with the participation of military experts. They should take place in the near future.