Greek Prime Minister Calls for Maritime Truce Following Black Sea Drone Attack

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has appealed for a global maritime truce following the sinking of the Liberian-flagged container ship CONTSHIP JET off the coast of Bulgaria. The vessel, which was traveling from Haifa, Israel, to Constanța, Romania, was struck by three naval drones on Wednesday while operating within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone. All 18 crew members, consisting of 14 Filipinos and four Ukrainians, were successfully rescued by Bulgarian authorities and transported to Varna.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council, Mitsotakis warned that such attacks on commercial shipping threaten international trade and could lead to increased consumer prices. While Bulgarian officials have launched an investigation, no party has claimed responsibility for the incident. This event marks the latest in a series of at least six drone strikes against commercial vessels in the western Black Sea this month. NATO members have expressed growing concern regarding the safety of shipping routes near the alliance's eastern borders as the conflict in Ukraine continues to impact regional maritime security.