据BTA新闻社报道，保加利亚总理鲁门·拉德夫周二证实，在该地区发生无人机袭击商船事件后，一架美国海军飞机正在黑海上空执行巡逻任务。
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed Tuesday that a US Navy aircraft is operating over the Black Sea following drone attacks on merchant vessels in the region, according to BTA news agency.
拉德夫告诉记者，这架波音P-8A海神海上巡逻和侦察机正在执行侦察任务，以探测潜在威胁，北约盟国已迅速响应保加利亚的援助请求。
Radev told reporters that the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft was conducting reconnaissance missions to detect potential threats, and that NATO allies had responded swiftly to Bulgaria’s request for assistance.
他表示，保加利亚已全面动员其监视、侦察、检测和应对能力，并期待北约盟国的进一步援助。
He said Bulgaria had fully mobilized its surveillance, reconnaissance, detection and response capabilities, and that further assistance from NATO allies was expected.
国防部长迪米塔尔·斯托亚诺夫称，这架飞机属于北约，不应与任何特定国家联系在一起。
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the aircraft belonged to NATO and should not be associated with any particular country.
斯托亚诺夫还表示，海神飞机没有攻击能力，将继续执行任务直至必要为止。他补充说，任务中收集的信息正在与北约共享。
Stoyanov said the Poseidon had no strike capability and would continue its missions for as long as necessary. "The decision for it to be here was taken jointly by Bulgaria and NATO," he said, adding that information gathered during the missions was being shared with the alliance.
保加利亚国防部此前也证实，美国军用飞机为加强警戒而曾在黑海上空进行巡逻。
The Bulgarian Defense Ministry confirmed earlier that a US military aircraft had conducted a patrol over the Black Sea as part of measures to strengthen vigilance.
上周，保加利亚向北约盟国请求了空中巡逻和额外的军事支援，包括导弹系统、反无人机系统和巡逻飞机。
Bulgaria requested air patrols and additional military capabilities from NATO allies last week, including missile systems, anti-drone systems and patrol aircraft.
在过去一个月里，保加利亚在黑海的专属经济区内有四艘船只遭到袭击，其中两艘沉没。
Four vessels in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea have been attacked during the last month, with two sinking.