Eastern Balkans in March 2026: the most important developments in security
Air defence and the Iran conflict dominated security news in the Eastern Balkans in March 2026. Greece took over Bulgaria's anti-ballistic missile protection against Iran, according to multiple reports, and by 12 March Greece had activated a Patriot system covering Bulgarian airspace while Bulgaria fully deployed its own air defences. Bulgaria evacuated its diplomats from Iran via Azerbaijan, raised security around its airports as US military planes operated from Sofia Airport, and pledged closer military coordination with Turkey. Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, held joint exercises with Bulgaria. A Bulgarian party pushed for the country's inclusion in a French nuclear protection programme, while Romania's president said his country will not host nuclear components for deterrence. Serbia's acquisition of new missile systems reportedly leaves Bulgaria's air defences unable to counter them.
On 11 March Romania's president announced that the United States may use a Black Sea air base for missions related to the war in Iran, including US refuelling aircraft and other equipment. Russia said it was assessing the threat from a possible deployment of US troops and jets. By 12 March Romania had approved a US military deployment near the Bulgarian border, while Bulgaria's interim defence minister said there is no plan for an American deployment in Bulgaria.
The Black Sea saw further fighting linked to the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian drones struck a major Russian oil export hub on 2 March, and on 18 March Ukraine said it seeks control of the Black Sea and signed a long-term defence alliance with the United Kingdom. On 26 March a Turkish-operated tanker carrying Russian oil was hit by a naval drone near Istanbul, the second such attack on a vessel carrying Russian oil in recent weeks. The same day a Russian drone crossed into Romanian airspace and NATO fighter jets were scrambled. Two Ukrainian citizens were detained in Bulgaria on espionage accusations. A NATO report showed Bulgaria has nearly doubled its defence spending over the past decade.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.