#SecureBlackSea’s fieldwork in Sofia included interviews with Bulgarian diplomatic officials, defence experts, policy analysts, and scholars specialising in Black Sea affairs.
Stakeholders emphasised Bulgaria’s dual role as both an EU and NATO member, highlighting the importance of alliance cohesion in responding to regional instability. Interviewees identified several key threats: Russia’s military presence in the Black Sea, hybrid warfare tactics, vulnerabilities in maritime infrastructure, and economic pressures linked to energy dependency. Experts noted that Bulgaria supports stronger NATO maritime posture, enhanced Black Sea surveillance, and improved coordination with EU mechanisms such as PESCO and the EU’s Cybersecurity Framework. Despite political and economic challenges, Bulgaria expressed interest in expanding cooperation on maritime security, environmental protection, and regional connectivity projects. These findings will guide the project’s comparative assessment of security priorities across Black Sea states.