Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey seek to involve other countries in demining the Black Sea

8 January, 2024 Lt. Dimitrie Nicolescu (DM-29) minesweeper of the Romanian Navy. Photo from open sources

Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey have invited other countries to join the initiative to demine the Black Sea and ensure the safety of maritime routes. The Center for Transportation Strategies reported on this. This refers to participation in a trilateral agreement between countries on joint mine clearance, which had been announced on January 6 by Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev.

Two countries plan to create a joint fleet to clear mines in parts of the Black Sea near Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria that had been laid there because of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is noted that the initiative remains open to joint actions and participation of mine action forces and assets of other NATO member states located outside the Black Sea region. The agreement between three countries is to be signed this week in Istanbul.

The mission will begin shortly after the agreement is signed.

Disposal of a drifting sea mine in the Black Sea on March 28, 2022. Photo credits: Romanian Naval Forces

International forces

Joint minesweeping forces of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria will not be considered a NATO operation, but will be the first major joint action by the Black Sea allies since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense emphasized that the activities of joint minesweeping forces will not be directed against any other country, and the Black Sea demining operation is expected to help improve cooperation between participants.

Joint minesweeping forces will create safe conditions for civilian ships to navigate the Black Sea, minimizing the risk of explosions. Minesweeper Lt.

Dimitrie Nicolescu (DM-29) of the Romanian Navy. Photos from open sourcesIt is worth noting that last autumn, Turkey took the opposite position regarding the involvement of NATO countries outside the region. Also, last autumn, Admiral Ercument Tatlioglu, Turkish Navy Commander, commented against the presence of naval forces from other NATO allies, including the United States, in the Black Sea.

A civilian ship that exploded on a mine in the Black Sea. December 2023.

Photo credits: State Border Guard Service of UkraineOn December 28, 2023, a civilian ship flying the Panamanian flag en route to a Danube port to load grain had exploded on a mine in the Black Sea.