NATO members Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania are set to sign a preliminary agreement this week for the demining of the Black Sea.
This initiative comes in response to the Russian navy's mining of Ukraine's Black Sea coastline during the early stages of its invasion last year, resulting in some mines washing up in the waters of these three NATO member states.
The mines pose a threat to shipping and complicate Ukraine's attempts to navigate the Russian naval blockade.
Top defence officials from Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania will sign a memorandum of understanding in Istanbul on Thursday, establishing the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea (MCM Black Sea). This group will oversee demining operations in the region.
The Bulgarian defence ministry emphasised that the activities of MCM Black Sea are peaceful and not directed against any specific country. The initiative aims to enhance cooperation and good neighbourly relations among the participating nations while complementing NATO's existing presence and ongoing deterrence and defence activities in the Black Sea area.
The Romanian defence ministry stated that the initiative will have a rotating command structure and contribute to strengthening the allied posture of deterrence and defence on the eastern flank. It is noteworthy that this initiative does not immediately prompt comments from Russia or Ukraine.
Turkey, with control over Black Sea maritime and naval traffic through the Bosphorus Strait and the Dardanelles, plays a crucial role in the region. In response to the outbreak of war, Turkey invoked the Montreux Convention, preventing the passage of naval vessels from non-literal countries to and from the Black Sea. This measure, while affecting international plans, aims to address security concerns in the Black Sea region.
