The United States is on the verge of adopting the Black Sea Security Act

10 September, 2023 Illustrative photo of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Black Sea. Photo from open sources The United States is on the verge of adopting the Black Sea Security Act of 2023.

Bohdan Ustymenko reported on this in an article published by the Center for Journalistic Investigations. The bill is an addition to another draft document, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which defines US spending on national defense in the fiscal year of 2024. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Mitt Romney introduced the Black Sea Security Act.

Shaheen is a Democrat and Romney is a Republican, which demonstrates the bipartisan support for the United States' involvement in strengthening the security of the Black Sea region. According to the US Congress website, the NDAA bill has already passed both Houses, and now the President has to sign it.

Illustrative photo of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Photo from open sources

The draft law on Black Sea security outlines the US Congress coming to very important conclusions for Ukraine:

  • It is in the interests of the United States to support efforts to prevent the spread of further armed conflict in Europe by recognizing the Black Sea region as an arena of Russian aggression;
  • The Black Sea states are crucial in countering the aggression of the Russian government and contributing to NATO's collective security;
  • The Russian Federation's repeated, illegal, unprovoked, and violent attempts to expand its territory and control access to the Mediterranean Sea through the Black Sea pose a threat to the national security of the United States and NATO;
  • It is in the interest of the United States to maintain and strengthen economic ties between the United States and the Black Sea states.

The draft law on Black Sea security contains a number of tasks that the United States sets for itself, as well as its views on the problems of ensuring the security of the Black Sea region.

The United States will consider with NATO and Alliance partners the issue of a regular presence in the Black Sea on a rotational basis. There are mutually beneficial opportunities for increased investment and economic expansion, particularly in energy and transportation infrastructure, between the United States and the states of the wider Black Sea region.

Illustrative photo of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser. Photo from open sources

The U.S. government's policy is to support and strengthen economic ties between the United States and its Black Sea partners by increasing the U.S. presence and U.S. investment.

The US state policy also assumes providing economic alternatives to "China's economic coercion" that destabilizes and further undermines the economic integration of the Black Sea states. The United States has an obligation to seek solutions to the food security problems caused by the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, as this global problem will have critical implications for the national security of the United States and its partners and allies. Militarnyi previously reported that British planes were protecting civilian vessels in the Black Sea.

No later than 180 days after the date of the Black Sea Security Act enactment, the U.S. National Security Council, together with the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and other relevant federal departments and agencies, shall prepare an interagency Black Sea Security and Development Strategy with a classified annex.

Illustrative photo of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the Black Sea. Photo from open sources

The Black Sea Security and Development Strategy will focus on:

  • Ensuring effective and efficient assistance to regional security partners with respect to the U.S. values and interests, and providing priority assistance that will strengthen defense and improve interoperability with NATO forces;
  • strengthening the United States support for the region's energy security, integration with Europe, and reducing the dependence of regional partners on Russia while supporting the diversification of energy resources;
  • mitigating economic pressure from the Russian Federation and China on the Black Sea countries and identifying new opportunities for foreign direct investment from the United States and partner countries, as well as strengthening US business ties with regional partners in line with US values and interests, etc;
  • the United States will also consider deploying an interstate military headquarters in the Black Sea region, which will be responsible for planning, readiness, exercises, and coordination of military activities in the wider Black Sea region;
  • not later than 360 days after the date of the Black Sea Security Act enactment, the U.S.

    Government shall identify the necessary programs, policies, or budgetary resources necessary to implement the Black Sea Security and Development Strategy for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026.

It is reported that the Romanian Navy and the United States Navy are organizing multinational Sea Breeze 23.3 exercises to be held in the Black Sea and the Danube Delta.

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