Bulgaria refused to participate in the NATO maneuvers “Poseidon 21”, which began on Saturday in the Black Sea, as cases of coronavirus infection were detected on two ships of the republic’s naval forces. This was announced on the air of Radio Romania by the chief of staff of the Romanian Navy Mihai Panait on Saturday, February 27.
According to TASS, the information was confirmed by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Security of Bulgaria Krasimir Karakachanov. He noted that the Romanian colleagues were warned about the existing difficulties a week ago. The minister also clarified that a total of five people were infected with the coronavirus in the crews of the Bulgarian ships.
On February 27, it was reported that the international NATO exercise “Poseidon 21” began in the Black Sea.
The exercises will be held from February 27 to March 6 on the Black Sea coast under the command of the Romanian naval forces. More than 700 military personnel from several countries of the North Atlantic Alliance take part in them: Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Romania, USA, Turkey and France.
The training, which will take place at sea, on land and in the air, will involve 13 warships, nine aircraft, as well as a pyrotechnic truck and an underwater robot.
The opening of the exercise took place in the port of Constanta on February 27 at 11:00.
Earlier, on February 25, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation began tracking the ships of the naval forces of Spain and Greece, which entered the Black Sea.