TSAMTO, July 15th. Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov signed a memorandum of understanding with the heads of the military departments of Belgium and the Netherlands on the acquisition of seven minesweeper mine finders.
According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, the signing ceremony of the memorandum took place within the framework of the NATO summit in Ankara (Turkey). On behalf of Belgium and the Netherlands, the document was signed by the heads of the military departments Theo Franken and Dylan Yeshilgez-Zegerius.
As stated, the delivery of seven minesweepers from the Belgian and Dutch Navies will enhance Bulgaria's maritime defense capabilities. The ships will be used as part of the Black Sea Naval Mine Defense Group.
Earlier, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, along with Defense Ministers of Romania and Turkey Radu Miruja and Yasar Guler, signed amendments to the memorandum of understanding between Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey on the establishment of the Black Sea Naval Mine Defense Group. They involve introducing a new task for the group related to exploration and surveillance, as well as the protection of important underwater infrastructure facilities.
The agreement includes the transfer of four Flower-class minesweepers from the Belgian Navy and three Alkmaar-class minesweepers from the Dutch Navy. Both minesweepers are based on the project of the Tripartit class minesweeper ship developed jointly by Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
As stated, the acquired ships will enhance the capabilities of the Bulgarian Navy to detect and neutralize sea mines and support efforts to protect shipping lanes in the Black Sea. The delivery of the minesweepers is a continuation of the previously completed acquisition of two Tripartit-class ships from the Dutch Navy for the Bulgarian Navy. An intergovernmental agreement on the supply of these ships was signed in November 2019. The cost of the two minesweepers amounted to 1,996 million euros ($2.2 million).
As reported by CAMTO, in September 2025, the Belgian Ministry of Defense announced the intention of the Belgian and Dutch authorities to donate seven Tripartit-class minesweepers to the Bulgarian Navy.
The Belgian government approved the Ministry of Defense's transfer proposal on September 12, 2025. Bulgaria will bear the costs of restoring the ships to a state of readiness for combat use. The minesweepers will be transferred during 2027-2028.
The Dutch authorities have announced their intention to join this initiative. Given the importance of strengthening mine defense capabilities in the Black Sea region, the countries agreed to transfer four Belgian and three Dutch weapons systems, including spare parts and a simulator.
The transfer of ships will be carried out under certain conditions. Bulgaria will be responsible for financing their commissioning and maintenance. The work will be carried out, if possible, mainly through Belgian contractors.
Bulgaria will also provide the necessary assistance to Ukraine in training the crews of the Tripartit-class minesweepers. In June 2025, Belgium and the Netherlands handed over to Ukraine the first two APMs of this type out of three planned for delivery. The third vessel was handed over in June 2026.
