The joint NATO fleet in the Black Sea will be directed against Russia. It is drawing Bulgaria into the anti-Russian project, which the country's leadership is not satisfied with. In the Orthodox Slavic Bulgaria, strong pro-Russian sentiments still persist. Previous anti-Russian gestures, including the refusal to participate in the "South Stream", brought nothing to Sofia.
The issue of strengthening NATO's military presence in the Black Sea will be raised at the Alliance's summit in Warsaw on 8th-9th July 2016. Most likely the US will be able to break the resistance of the Bulgarians. Today, Bulgaria can afford to oppose this initiative, as long as it does not come from the US, but may change its position if so requested by Washington.
