A US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon landed on Sunday afternoon, 18 October, in Varna, coming from Sigonella in Sicily. BNT reported the landing. The mission, in the western Black Sea, is reconnaissance, not strikes.

G4Media picks up Rador, citing Mediapool: the aircraft flew low, for maritime reconnaissance. The type is also built for patrol, anti-submarine work and tracking surface ships. That is the aircraft’s spec sheet, not today’s order. Bulgaria’s defence minister says plainly that it cannot strike targets.

On Tuesday, 20 October, Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed, after talks with NATO and partners, that an American aircraft had already begun patrolling over the Black Sea, to reconnoitre and detect activity that could pose a risk. How long it stays depends on the situation. He also expects further help.

Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters that the decision is joint, Bulgaria’s and NATO’s, that the aircraft is the Alliance’s and that it should not be identified with one country. The information goes to NATO. It will fly as long as needed. On 26 August Sofia asked for reconnaissance aviation; on 13 October it sent a second letter, after the incident with ships off the Bulgarian coast.

Allies answered quickly with this type of aircraft, specifically for reconnaissance from the air, the minister added. “The result is visible — they are already patrolling.” Other allied teams are also working in Bulgaria, on reconnaissance, not on an announced attack.

The Poseidon’s appearance comes after drone attacks on commercial ships near the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. Today’s article does not attribute those attacks and does not try them. This is not a shooting mission and it is not an American base opened at Varna. A patrol, not strikes.

Image: Jim van de Burgt, US Navy P-8A Poseidon, Fairford, 17 July 2017, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; the aircraft type, not the Varna flight of 18 October 2026.

Sources consulted: Americans sent a Poseidon aircraft over the Black Sea - G4Media; The Poseidon will fly missions as long as needed, information goes to NATO - BTA, 20 October 2026.