The three countries signed an agreement on Thursday to jointly combat the mine threat in the Black Sea. The initiative is aimed at improving the safety of shipping, including for vessels carrying grain from Ukraine.
Turkish National Defence Minister Yasar Guler, his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar, and Bulgarian Deputy Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov attended the signing ceremony in Istanbul. Guler stated:
“We are signing the Black Sea Mine Countermeasures Task Group Agreement (MCM Black Sea) within the framework of the Triple Initiative, initiated under the leadership of our country to address the mine threat in the Black Sea. With the aim of enhancing our existing close collaboration and coordination for a more effective struggle against the mine threat in the Black Sea, we have jointly decided to establish a protocol among the three countries.”
Turkey believes the agreement will contribute to “regional security” and “stability” in the Black Sea, Guler added.
NATO’s spokesperson Dylan White welcomed the MCM Black Sea demining unit to the Black Sea.
We welcome that Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye are working together against the threat of mines in the Black Sea.
Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for stray mines thrown up by waves off the Black Sea coast.
Turkey and the United Nations struck a deal in July 2022 to allow free passage of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, but Russia reneged on the deal a year later. Since then, Ukraine has been sending grain via a corridor through the western part of the Black Sea.
