The Greek Parliament has approved a military cooperation agreement with Bulgaria that will allow a Greek military formation to receive support for conducting maritime patrol aviation missions over the Black Sea.
The agreement, signed between the defense ministries of Greece and Bulgaria, is part of broader NATO efforts to strengthen the Alliance’s presence and capabilities in the Black Sea region. Military experts note that the patrol flights are linked to NATO’s adapted forward presence strategy, designed to improve deterrence and defensive readiness along the southeastern flank.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bulgaria will provide air traffic services for the operations. The country has also committed to supporting the deployment of Greek Air Force aircraft and flight crews at Bezmer Air Base, including ensuring aircraft maintenance capabilities.
The measures included in the agreement are aimed at increasing NATO’s ability to respond to potential security challenges in the region. Greek defense officials recalled that the decision to reinforce allied military presence on the southeastern flank was made at the 2016 NATO Summit, when member states agreed to expand their defensive posture in response to changing security conditions.
