Russian attacks on ships in the Black Sea test NATO's weak link

This month, Russian attacks on civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea have targeted vessels in NATO's exclusive economic zones, specifically Romania and Bulgaria. Bulgaria's government, which has favored dialogue with Moscow, is seen as a weak link in NATO. Experts suggest Russia is testing NATO's response by attacking ships associated with Ukrainian trade. Four cargo ships were hit in Bulgaria's zone, with some sinking and casualties reported. Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev condemned the attacks but did not explicitly name Russia as the aggressor. Meanwhile, Romania identified Russian drones in its waters, highlighting the escalating security situation in the Black Sea. Analysts note a lack of NATO and EU response to these provocations, raising concerns about regional stability.