Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania sign deal to combat mine threat in Black Sea
Political
Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler announced that Türkiye, Bulgaria and Romania have agreed on the establishment of a special group to coordinate mine clearance operations in their territorial waters in the Black Sea.
Negotiations on Black Sea demining began in April 2022 with the participation of Ukraine, Georgia and Poland. In the final phase of the negotiations, representatives of Bulgaria, Türkiye and Romania discussed joint efforts to clear the Black Sea of mines that pose a danger to navigation.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dozens of floating mines have been destroyed in the Black Sea by Ukrainian forces and divers from Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye.
In October, a Turkish-flagged cargo ship hit a mine off the coast of Romania; on New Year's Eve, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea, causing a fire.
Kiev accuses Russia of mining the Black Sea, pointing out that mines planted by the Russian military are drifting around the waters. In response, Russia accuses Ukraine of "indiscriminate mining of the coastal waters of the Black Sea".
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, dozens of floating mines have been destroyed in the Black Sea by Ukrainian forces and divers from Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye.
In October, a Turkish-flagged cargo ship hit a mine off the coast of Romania; on New Year's Eve, a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea, causing a fire.
Kiev accuses Russia of mining the Black Sea, pointing out that mines planted by the Russian military are drifting around the waters. In response, Russia accuses Ukraine of "indiscriminate mining of the coastal waters of the Black Sea".
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