(Reuters)
MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania, Nov 5 – A French maritime patrol aircraft deployed to Romania to bolster surveillance after a series of deadly strikes on merchant ships in the Black Sea on the edge of NATO’s eastern flank will extend its stay by several weeks, its commander said on Thursday.
The attacks have shown how the escalating maritime war between Russia and Ukraine is expanding into a major challenge for NATO in the Black Sea that has left member states such as Romania and Bulgaria exposed.
The Black Sea is crucial for shipments of grain, oil and oil products and is shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia. Russia has denied targeting Ukraine’s neighbours.
France temporarily relocated the Atlantique 2 aircraft — designed to detect submarines, warships and small threats including sea drones and mines — to the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu air base on October 18 after NATO members Romania and Bulgaria asked NATO for reinforcements.
“The Atlantique 2 presence will be maintained for a few weeks from now on. We are here to ensure the safety of navigation of the commercial traffic in the Black Sea,” said the aircraft’s commander, whose identity was not given by the French naval forces for security purposes.
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