The information that "NATO is preparing a 'large-scale conflict in the Black Sea'", and that there were discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos to use Varna as a naval base is fake news, the Bulgarian government said. "All NATO capabilities are aimed at deterrence and defence’’, the government said in the "Facts Against Disinformation" section of its Facebook page.

Bulgaria is planning to establish a Coordination Element for Situational Awareness, which has nothing to do with the concept of a naval base and does not involve the deployment of naval assets. "Russian propaganda is targeting Varna for a reason. This is the city that Moscow bombed twice in the First World War, at the cost of a number of civilian casualties and significant destruction of residential buildings", reads the Council of Ministers' publication.