Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania entered into a collaborative agreement to address the issue of rogue sea mines in the Black Sea, a problem that has been disrupting shipping since the Ukraine conflict began.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler announced the creation of a Mine Countermeasures Task Group involving these three NATO countries.
“We jointly decided to sign a protocol between three countries to fight more effectively against the mine danger in the Black Sea by improving our existing close cooperation and coordination,” Guler said.
This initiative aims to enhance the fight against the threat of drifting mines by leveraging the already strong cooperation and coordination among these nations.
Guler made this announcement in Istanbul, joined by Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilvar and Bulgaria’s Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov.
This agreement follows Turkey’s recent decision to deny access to two minesweeping ships, donated to Ukraine by Britain, from entering the Black Sea.
Last year, Turkey reaffirmed its commitment to the Montreux Convention, emphasizing that it won’t permit the entry of military vessels into the Black Sea through its straits.
The Turkish Defense Ministry released an official statement, asserting the significance of maintaining stability and balance in the Black Sea region. “Preserving equilibrium in the Black Sea under the principle of ‘regional responsibility’ is crucial. We will continue to meticulously uphold the Montreux Convention,” the statement read.
