GENEVA

Bulgaria has strengthened protection of its airspace, particularly in the northeast, as part of NATO efforts to reinforce the alliance’s southeastern flank, the prime minister said Sunday, BTA news reported.

"We are closely monitoring the situation, and there is a protocol that must be followed. We must also ensure the safety of civil aviation," Rosen Zhelyazkov told reporters at the opening of the final section of the Europe Motorway.

The prime minister said Bulgaria remains alert to potential risks in the Black Sea region.

"I also believe that the Russian Federation will proceed with great caution and avoid the possibility of incidents in the Black Sea, where air traffic is extremely intense," he said.

Zhelyazkov stressed that Sofia's monitoring is part of its NATO commitments and that Bulgaria "is ready to respond if a situation arises."

He described recent Russian drone activity as "provocations" designed to "gauge the Alliance’s readiness," adding: "They are not offensive in nature, but regardless, every provocation must be responded to appropriately."