Sea demining: NATO Black Sea states create joint mission

Türkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria are planning a joint mission to clear the mines of the Black Sea. The countries plan to join forces to clear the Black Sea of mines that are entering their waters due to Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing sources.

“The three NATO members are still working out the details but may set up the unit as early as next month, according to two of the officials, who all asked not to be identified because the talks were private,” the journalists said

The joint demining force will be the first major joint effort by allies in the Black Sea since the start of a full-scale Russian invasion. The operation should be completely peaceful and not require the involvement of any new NATO ships. One of the mission’s goals is to show that the three countries can solve the problem independently, the source said.

“NATO allies have increased surveillance and reconnaissance in the region since the war started, but not maritime activity. Turkey has invoked an international agreement that allows passage of warships belonging only to Black Sea littoral states and not other countries, including NATO allies, to prevent escalation of the conflict,” Bloomberg writes.

Military diving teams from Romania, Bulgaria, and Türkiye have regularly cleared mines drifting in their waters since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.